Earlier, there was speculation that Lt Gen Bakshi may resign
or take premature retirement.

The Eastern Commander called the new Army chief to
congratulate him on taking over the reins of the army.

Speculation is rife that Lt Gen Bakshi may be given the new
post of Chief of Defence Staff pertaining which Mr. Parrikar will meet Prime
Minster Narendra Modi next month.

Rawatwas commissioned in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven
Gorkha Rifles in December 1978 from IMA, Dehradun.

He was awarded the ’Sword of Honour’ at the academy.

Earlier in the day, Gen Suhag and Air Chief Marshal Raha
paid tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti and inspected the guard of honour.

The new IAF chief, Air Marshal Dhanoa, had developed the
country’s aerial targeting philosophy against potential adversaries and
transformed the concept of air operations of the air force into contemporary
war fighting practices.

In a fast-paced development, a BJP government was installed
in Arunachal Pradesh after 33, out of 43 Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLAs
led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu, joined the party.

The high-voltage political drama began late night after PPA
President Kahfa Bengia temporarily suspended Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and
five legislators from the primary membership of the party for alleged
anti-party activities.

The PPA, an alliance partner of the North East Democratic
Alliance (NEDA) government in the State, selected Takam Pario as the new chief
minister of the State.

However, the political equation changed when majority of the
PPA MLAs who initially extended support to Pario, later shifted their
allegiance to Khandu.

The PPA also suspended four other party MLAs, including
Honchun Ngandam, Bamang Felix, Punji Mara and Pani Taram.

There was no significant development in the State for the
last year due to political turmoil, but now with NDA government at the Centre,
the state will witness a sea change in the coming years.

When asked about the court case filed by Arunachal Pradesh
Congress Committee (APCC) President Padi Richo against the joining of Congress
MLAs with PPA which is pending with the Gauhati High court and which would be
taken up on January 7 next.

Mr.Khandu claims that the joining was done in accordance to
the Constitution.

Who is Pema Khandu?

Pema Khandu is son of
late chief minister Dorjee Khandu.

Pema Khandu Khandu
had become chief minister in July, 2016.

He had deserted Congress along with 42 other MLAs to join
PPA in September.

He has been removed as the legislature party
leader of PPA and directions have been issued to all MLAs not to attend
meetings summoned by him

Sasikala Natarajan takes over as AIADMK general secretary, breaks down while addressing party workers - 01 Jan 17

Highlights:

Sasikala Natarajan, a close friend and confidante of former
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, formally took over as the All India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's general secretary.

Sasikala was unanimously chosen to lead the AIADMK at a party meeting.

The post Jayalalithaa held before she passed away earlier
this month.

Sasikala broke down while speaking about Jayalalithaa in her
address to AIADMK party workers.

Former CM, Jayalalithaa had struggled for 75 days - a
reference to her hospitalisation.

She 'd been with Jayalalithaa since she was 29 , and that the
former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was her "life."

Sasikala will follow Jayalalithaa's directions while leading
the AIADMK. She added that the party's cadre were its strength, and expressed
confidence that they will support her.

The new AIADMK chief announced that former Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister and AIADMK founder MG Ramamchandran' s birth centenary anniversary
celebrations will be organised throughout the year.

The AIADMK will demand the Centre to release a stamp and commemoration
coin in honour of 'MGR,'.

He has been recognised for his work as a co-inventor of Next
Generation DNA sequencing, described as the most transformational advance in
biology and medicine for decades.

As it is now known, allows an individual genome to be
sequenced in a day or two at a cost of less than 1,000 pounds; previously,
sequencing the human genome took years of work and cost billions.

His work has spawned an entirely new discipline of
Bioinformatics.

Prof. Balasubramanian's Next Generation DNA sequencing has been described as the most transformational advance in biology and medicine for decades.

Murray, Farah and British track and field athlete Jessica
Ennis-Hill are among others honoured in the 2017 New Year Honours list, which
also includes big names from the entertainment world, including actors Mark
Rylance and Patricia Routledge.

A host of other Indian-origin professionals are also
included in the honours list, including Knights Commander of the Order of the
British Empire (CBE) for Hardip Singh Begol of the UK’s Department for
Education for services to education; Kamaldeep Singh Bhui, Professor of
cultural psychiatry and epidemiology at Queen Mary University of London for
services to mental health research and care.

Neena Gill, Member of the European Parliament for the West
Midlands for parliamentary and political service, Ravindra Pragji Govindia of
Wandsworth Borough Council for services to local government and the community
in Wandsworth, London and Anita Thapar from the Institute of Psychological
Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University for services to child
and adolescent psychiatry are also included in the list.

Indian-origin Officers of the Order of the British Empire
(OBEs) include Poonam Gupta, Chief Executive Officer of PG Paper Company Ltd,
for services to Business and charity; Dr Brinder Singh Mahon, Chief Executive
Officer of Nishkam School Trust, for services to education; Yorkshire prison
officer Avtar Singh Purewal for services to prisoners; and Jasvir Singh,
founding chair of City Sikhs, for voluntary service to faith communities and
social cohesion.

According to ministry of Petroleum, a target of 1.5 crore
connections fixed for the current financial year for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana (PMUY) has been achieved within a span of less than 8 months and the
scheme is being implemented now across 35 states/ union territories.

An adult woman member of BPL family identified through
Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data is given a deposit free LPG connection
with financial assistance of Rs. 1600/- per connection by Government of India.

14 states and union territories having LPG coverage less
than the national average, hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand,
Himachal Pradesh and all North-East States are identified as priority states
for implementing the scheme.

Top 3 states to benefit are UP, Bengal and Bihar - and these
are the states that provide oxygen to the obnoxious ''Sickular Phorsej'' that
are the bane of the nation.

The top five states with maximum connections are UP (46
lakh), West Bengal (19 lakh), Bihar (19 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (17 lakh) and Rajasthan
(14 lakh).

These States constitutes nearly 75% of the total connections
released.

The households belonging to SC/ST constitute large chunk of
beneficiaries with 35% of the connections being released to them.

It is also noteworthy that with the implementation of PMUY,
the national LPG coverage has increased from 61% (as on 1.1.2016) to 70% (as on
01.12.2016).

The scheme will cover hospital admission, vaccination and
nutritional food.

It is a parts of efforts to bring down the maternal
mortality rate.

The scheme will be applicable across the over 650 districts
of the country.

The money will be directly transferred to pregnant women
bank accounts.

Currently, the scheme is being implemented on a pilot basis
in 53 districts with the benefit amount being Rs. 4,000.

The scheme was among the many announced by the Prime
Minister this evening as he addressed the nation, on New Year's Eve.

This is his second address to the nation since November 8,
when in a surprise announcement the PM said in a speech on television that old
notes would be illegal just a few hours later.

Modi thanked citizens for cooperating with the
demonetisation scheme, unveiled slew of schemes.

As the 50-day timeframe for the exchanging of old currency
notes came to a close on December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on addressed
the nation, announcing a slew of new schemes, including for housing loans, and
urging people to go digital for monetary transactions.

Gist of the schemes announced by the PM:

1. Rebate of 4% will be given on housing loans of up to Rs.
9 lakh, 3% rebate on loans of up to Rs. 12 lakh, 2% rebate on loans of up to
Rs. 20 lakh.

2. Farmers will receive 60 days worth of interest credited
to their accounts.

The panel was formed in January 2015 in the wake of the
Justice Mudgal Committee report that called for reforms within the BCCI.

The Mudgal panel had gone into state of affairs of the BCCI
following the 2013 IPL betting and spot-fixing charges.

According to the Supreme Court, all Lodha recommendations
must be implemented and this means that all cricket administrators over 70
years old will have to resign.

The verdict, in what has come to be known as BCCI versus the
Lodha Committee face-off, came after months of a bitter court battle.

The Lodha Committee has recommended sweeping changes in the
way the board is run and led and had complained that the BCCI or Board of
Control for Cricket in India was refusing to implement them

The Lodha Committee has appointed by the Supreme Court after
a betting scandal in the Indian Premier League.

The committee of administrators will look after the BCCI's
affairs.

The senior-most BCCI vice-president will act as president
while the joint-secretary will act as secretary.

All the BCCI office-bearers and state associations will have
to give an undertaking to abide by the Lodha Committee recommendations, it
further ruled.

The court will pass a separate order on January 19 for
appointing the administrator.

The Supreme Court has requested senior advocate Fali Nariman
and Gopal Subramaniam to assist in nominating persons of impeccable integrity
as members of committee of administrators.

The Supreme Court had given the board time until December 3
to implement the reforms suggested by the Lodha panel.

The board had pleaded that it could not implement all the
reforms, which include large-scale structural and management changes.

Earlier, The Lodha Committee had suggested removal of the
BCCI office-bearers and the appointment of GK Pillai in its status report.

In the last hearing, amicus curiae and senior lawyer Gopal
Subramaniam recommended the names of Pillai with ex-Comptroller and Auditor
General Vinod Rai and former Test cricketer Mohinder Amarnath to run the BCCI.

On December 15, the top court had observed Thakur prima
facie appears to have committed matter of perjury in relation to demanding an
intervention via a letter from the International Cricket Council (ICC) in order
to sidestep the implementation of the Lodha committee recommendations.

What is Lodha
Committee ?

The Lodha Committee was set up in January 2015 by the
Supreme Court to suggest changes in the way the BCCI, the world's richest
cricket board, is run.

The Lodha Committee is headed by former Chief Justice of
India RM Lodha.

The main aim is to curb the irregularities and corruptions
and also transparent its assets to all.

The committee had made recommendations in early 2016 and
these were approved in July by the Supreme Court, which asked the BCCI to
implement them.

In earlier hearings the court has rapped the board on the
knuckles for not obeying that order, asking whether it believes "it is a
law unto itself."

At the last hearing on December 16, the BCCI rejected the
Lodha Committee's recommendation that former union home secretary GK Pillai be
appointed as an independent auditor to scrutinise the grant of contracts by the
board as ordered by the court.

It has also suggested that one person hold only one post and
that each state have only one vote on the board.

Currently states like Maharashtra, have more influence than
the others.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened a new window for
non-resident Indian and citizens who were staying abroad since November 8 to
deposit the demonetised Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 currency notes.

Resident Indian citizens who were abroad during November 9,
2016 to December 30, 2016 can avail this facility up-to March 31, 2017 and Non
Resident Indian citizens who were abroad during November 9, 2016 to December
30, 2016 can avail this facility up-to June 30, 2017.

While there is no monetary limit for exchange for the
eligible Resident Indians, the limit for NRIs will be as per the relevant FEMA
Regulations.

They can avail this facility in their individual capacity
once during the period on submission of ID documents, such as, Aadhaar number,
Permanent Account Number (PAN) etc.

A person should submit of documentary evidence showing they
were abroad during the period and, that they have not availed the exchange
facility earlier, Customs certificate about import of SBNs by NRIs etc.

No third party tender will be accepted under the facility.

The facility will be available through RBI offices at
Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, and Nagpur.

Indian citizens resident in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and
Bangladesh cannot avail this facility.

The merger of the five associate banks with State Bank of
India (SBI) will be postponed to by a quarter due to the demonetization
exercise while Bharatiya Mahila Bank (BMB)
to next fiscal year.

The bank had announced in May plans to merge its five
associate banks with itself by March 2017 to emerge as a global bank in order
to compete with peers in emerging markets.

The reason is still have to get government approval.

There will be a lot of IT system changes and normally by
mid-February ,SBI close down all IT system changes as these can impact
something else quit unknowingly.

The merger of associate banks remains on track and would not
be unaffected by the demonetisation move.

The focus of banks had shifted to serving customers at front
office following the move to scrap the high value Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes on
November 8.

Due to restriction in cash withdrawals and several cash
crunch, the bank had deployed many banks staff from corporate office to
branches to manage customers who had queued up to withdraw cash. During these
50 days the bank open 89 lakh new accounts in order to provide banking services
to underprivileged class of the society.

Earlier, in May, SBI cleared proposal to merger with itself
five associate banks State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of
Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of
Hyderabad and one PSU bank - Bharatiya Mahila Bank.

It has the latest features to correct and guide itself for
in-flight disturbances.

The most accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation
system (RINS) and supported by highly reliable redundant micro navigation
system (MINGS), ensures the vehicle reaches the target within two-digit
accuracy.

The re-entry heat shield can withstand temperatures in the
range of 4,000 degrees centigrade and makes sure the avionics function normally
with inside temperature remaining less than 50 degrees centigrade.

Andhra Pradesh launches with ‘Aarogya Raksha’ for all as new year gift - 03 Jan 17

Highlights:

Andhra Pradesh Chief
Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu began the New Year by launching the Aarogya
Raksha family health insurance scheme.

The state government decided to provide health insurance
cover to every individual in a family on payment of a monthly premium of Rs.100
per head for a year.

It was a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme for the
Above Poverty Line families. Similar schemes targeted at the BPL families would
continue.

Registrations through www.ntrvaidyaseva.ap.gov.in are open
till February 28.

Under the Aarogya Raksha, end-to-end cashless services would
be rendered for 1044 diseases under secondary and tertiary care through 432
government and private hospitals.

The Chief Minister claimed that health care spending had
come down substantially to about 17 % after the government had taken up 30
initiatives last year.

The students of medicine, nursing, psychology and home
science to contribute their best to the improvement of public health through
the Swasthya Vidya Vahini.

They would visit villages to prepare disease profiles
thereby facilitating better public health management starting from January 2.

The Aarogya Raksha scheme was essential as an estimated
three per cent of the population fall below the poverty line every year.

The World Health Organization had given a call for ‘health
for all’ as early as in the 1970s and the emphasis on it had gone up since the
adoption of the Alma-Ata Declaration in 1978.

A.P. can now claim to be the first State to fulfil that
vision.

Earlier, the concept of UHC had emerged in 2012.

Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas and Principal Secretary
Poonam Malakondaiah were among those present.

NPCI to launch new version for BhimApp soon. What is Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) ? - 04 Jan 17

Highlights:

BHIM app, or the Bharat Interface for Money, is the Narendra Modi government’s latest app to push India towards a cashless or ‘less-cash’ society.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the BHIM app, which is available for Android OS.

An iOS (Apple) app will be launched soon.

According to the government, the BHIM app allows the users to make cashless payments using their mobile phones in a “fast, secure and reliable” way.

The Aadhaar-based payments app has been developed by the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).

The ‘Made in India’ app is interoperable with other Unified Payment Interface (UPI) applications, and bank accounts.

More than 30 lakh people have already downloaded it.

BHIM App has also reached the number 1 level in Google
Playstore among top free Android Apps, ie ahead of My Jio and WhatsApp.

Transactions volumes using BHIM App have also started
surging.

There were 45,000 transactions worth Rs 3.7 cr on January 2.

Several banks have already launched their own mobile apps
based on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based platform.

Purpose of the new
app:-

The main purpose of BHIM App is to provide uniform
experience of UPI and also to support those banks who have not developed any
UPI app for their customers as yet.

It is also useful for customers who don’t want install
separate app for their different bank accounts.

However, there are several complaints from its users.

These complaints include not able to install the App, not
able to transfer or receive money after installation, no confirmation for the
money sent or received, etc.

There are also instances of failed transactions (ie money
goes from sender’s account, but the same not yet received at the other end).

To mitigate all these bugs, NPCI is expected to hit the
market with a new version.

What is Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) ?

Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is an app that lets you make easy and quick payment transactions using UPI. Its easier than Wallets! You will not have to fill-out those tedious bank account details again and again. You can easily make direct bank to bank payments and instantly collect money using just Mobile number or Payment address.

As fast as it can get! All payments over Bharat Interface for Money are linked to your bank account and transaction can be completed within few seconds.

There are no charges for making transaction through Bharat Interface for Money. Note – Your bank might however levy a nominal charge as UPI or IMPS transfer fee which is not under our control. Please check with your bank for more details.

Bharat Interface for Money app is currently available on Android (Version 8 and above) and iOS mobiles (Version 5 and above). We will be making our app available on other platforms very soon.

To start using Bharat Interface for Money all you need is a Smartphone, Internet access, an Indian bank account that supports UPI payments and mobile number linked to the bank account. Link your bank account to UPI through the app.

Your account need not be enabled for mobile banking to use Bharat Interface for Money. Your mobile number shall have to be registered with the Bank.

To enable transfers directly using your bank account, your bank needs to be live on UPI (Unified Payment Interface) platform. All the banks, which are currently live on UPI, have been listed in the Bharat Interface for Money app.

You can set your UPI PIN by going to Main Menu -Bank Accounts -Set UPI-PIN for the selected account. You will be prompted to enter the last 6 digits of your Debit/ATM card along with the expiry date. You will then receive an OTP which you will enter and set your UPI PIN. Note – ‘UPI-PIN is not the same as MPIN provided by your bank for mobile banking’.

Currently, Bharat Interface for Money supports linking of one Bank only. At the time of account set-up, you can link your preferred bank account as the default account. In case you want to link another bank account, you can go to Main menu, choose Bank Accounts and select your default account. Any money that is transferred to you using your mobile number or payment address will be credited into your default account.

This is a banking network (UPI) requirement. The mobile number which is used to register with Bharat Interface for Money is used to match the bank accounts linked against it.

At the time of registration you will be providing us with the Debit card details and with the use your mobile number registered to your bank account, we will pre-fetch the details from your bank. All the information exchange happens over secure banking networks and we don’t store it, your information is safe!

Unified Payment Interface(UPI) is an instant payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an RBI regulated entity. UPI is built over the IMPS infrastructure and allows you to instantly transfer money between any two parties bank accounts.

Bhim App: How To Use?

You can download the app from here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.org.npci.upiapp

After downloading the BHIM app from the Play store, the user
has to register his/her bank account and set up a UPI Pin for it. The user’s
mobile number will become the payment address. Once registered, you can start
transacting using the BHIM app.

The user can send or receive money from friends, family and
customers through a mobile number (payment address). The money can also be sent
to non-UPI supported banks. This can be done using MMID and IFSC. The user can
also collect money by sending a request and reverse payments if required.

The user can check his/her balance and make transactions on
the go. The user can create a custom payment address in addition to his/her
phone number. A QR code can be scanned for faster entry of payment addresses.
Merchants can easily print their QR Code for display, the government says. The
BHIM app supports Hindi and English languages as of now, but the government
plans to launch it in other languages soon.

Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has launched the web
portal and mobile app for the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) in New Delhi.

The project has been launched with a sole aim to take
electricity to every home and the government is in touch with every state
governments to ensure it.

The scheme would give details of progress made by various
DISCOMs.

The data will also be integrated into the state level and
the national level, which will be used for advanced performance analysis.

The National, State and DISCOM level dashboards will then
provide information on financial and operational performance at numerous levels
in public domain.

The portal/app is the follow-up to the pact signed by the
States under the scheme, not only to help to monitor the progress made by the
DISCOMs at Union ministry level, but also for making schemes/plans in future
for improving DISCOMs performance.

This will be the first time that performance metrics of
several DISCOMs will be there on one platform.

It will also help to good healthy competition amongst the
DISCOMs/States, bringing in an ethos of ‘Competitive Federalism’ among states
to achieve the best progress in public schemes.

Assam and Telangana also joined that scheme.

As per an official, the net benefit of around Rs 1,663 crore
and Rs 6,116 crore would accrue both respectively by way of reduction in
AT&C and transmission losses, savings in interest cost, coal reforms, among
others.

Even as Telangana would take over Rs 8,923 crore of overall
Rs 11,897 crore of disco debt, Assam will take over Rs 928 crore out of total
Rs 1,510 crore.

Under the scheme, state governments are needed to take over
75 percent of their respective discom debt outstanding as on September 30,
2015.

The mandate in UDAYsays that the balance debt of 25 percent
would be issued as state guaranteed discom bonds.

The step will amount to saving in interest cost of Rs 387
crore for Telangana and Rs 37 crore for Assam annually.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates' charity foundation has
invested USD 140 million in the development of HIV-preventing drug implants
that could revolutionize the treatment of the life-threatening infection.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing this
funding for the groundbreaking new technology which could revolutionize HIV
prevention.

Currently prevention drugs are available in the form of a
pill that, if taken daily, can reduce a person's chances of being infected with
HIV.

The drugs are recommended by the World Health Organisation
for use by at-risk groups including men who have sex with men - but are only
effective if the pills are taken consistently.

There are hopes that implant technology, similar to systems
available for birth control, could be used to deliver a consistent supply of
drugs, aiding people vulnerable to HIV.

According to The Wall Street Journal, their latest
investment has placed their backing firmly behind a biopharmaceutical company
located in Boston.

They believe that this company could yield one of the
largest revelations in HIV treatment yet.

This treatment takes the form of a pump that was initially
designed for type two diabetes patients.

It works by continuously delivering medication throughout
the body.

The pump is reportedly capable of administering drugs
throughout the body for as long as 12 months.

It could also be easily filled by
a clinician annually or bi-annually.

Researchers believe that the pump could work similarly, for
HIV prevention, in healthy patients. Delivering treatment such as PreP
continuously and, therefore, working to prevent HIV and AIDS. PreP is a daily
drug that has been critical in preventing HIV infections in sexually active
adults.

The Gates invested USD 50 million in equity stakes at
Intarcia Therapeutics - the company responsible for the pump.

They provided a further USD 90 million in company grants
towards the goal of developing the HIV preventing device.

ISRO to launch record 103 satellites in one go in February,2017 - 05 Jan 17

Highlights:

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch a
record 103 satellites in one go using its workhorse PSLV-C37 in the first week
of February,2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet South Asian satellite
project will take off in March.

As many as 100 of the satellites set for launch in February
belong to foreign nations, including the US and Germany.

The space agency had earlier planned a launch of 83
satellites in the last week of January, of which 80 were foreign ones.

But with the addition of 20 more foreign satellites, the
launch was delayed by a week and will now take place in first week of February.

These will be 100 micro-small satellites, which will be
launched using a PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle)- C37.

The weight of the payload will be 1350 kgs, of which 500-600
kgs will be the satellite's weight.

The launch will be a major feat in country's space history
as no exercise on this scale has been attempted before.

Last year, ISRO launched 22 satellites at a go and this
launch will have almost five times the number of crafts.

The South Asian satellite will be a part of GSAT-9, which
will be launched in March this year, said M Nageshwara Rao, associate director
of Isro.

The communication satellite was to be launched in December
2016, but was slightly delayed as some other satellites are to be launched
before that.

Envisaged as a gift to its neighbours, the project, earlier
known as SAARC satellite, faced stiff resistance from Pakistan.

The neighbouring country wanted it to be launched under the
aegis of the South Asian regional forum. It later backed out of the project.

China has launched its first freight train to London over
12,000 kilometers away.

It is a part of efforts by the world's second largest
economy to expand rail links to different areas across the globe to improve its
dwindling exports and stabilize slowdown.

The train departed from China's international commodity hub
Yiwu in Zhejiang Province.

It will travel for about 18 days and more than 12,000 kilometers before reaching its destination in Britain, the China Railway
Corporation (CRC).

Yiwu is known for producing small commodities, and the train
mainly carried such goods, including household items, garments, cloth, bags and
suitcases.

It will pass through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland,
Germany, Belgium and France before arriving in London, state- run Xinhua news
agency reported.

London is the 15th city in Europe added to China-Europe
freight train services.

The service will improve China-Britain trade ties,
strengthen connectivity with western Europe, while better serving China's Belt
and Road Initiative, an infrastructure and trade network connecting Asia with
Europe and Africa along ancient trade routes.

Major boost for Infra: UAE confirms that a joint working
group is finalising procedural details of the $75 billion investment into NIIF.

UAE funding to be pumped into Indian infrastructure India
and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2016 to explore
opportunities for mobilisation of long-term investment through the National
Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

The fund will support rapid expansion of next-generation
infrastructure, especially in railways, ports, roads, airports, and industrial
corridors and parks.

Overall ‘Stressed Advances’ of banking system worsens to a
scary 12.3% as of Sept 2016. Infra PPP financing now even more difficult.

According to RBI’s Financial Stability Report, risks to the
banking sector remained elevated due to continuous deterioration in asset
quality, low profitability and liquidity.

Infrastructure, iron and steel, and engineering and power
sectors are the ones that have been highly impacted.

The Centre has target to provide as many as 44 lakh people
in the next financial year and will also
provide them LPG, power and water connections.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (Gramin) or PMAY, the
Centre will directly transfer about Rs 1.30 lakh and Rs 1.50 lakh in accounts
of the beneficiaries staying in plain areas and hilly areas respectively.

Besides, all beneficiaries will be given additional Rs.
12,000 for construction of toilets and 90 days of employment under MNREGA for
construction of their own homes which amounts to Rs 18,000, he added.

Earlier, the target for next year was to provide homes to 33
lakh rpt lakh beneficiaries which has now been revised to 44 lakh rpt lakh.

Prime Minister’s direction is clear to raise the quality of
life of people by ensuring them homes not houses.

The govt.’s aim is to
ensure homes to homeless and concrete houses to those staying in kachha houses.

The Centre also requested states to transfer land in name of
those beneficiaries who are homeless.

According to Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management Ltd.
(Reliance Mutual Fund), the assets under management (AUM) of the Indian mutual
industry are expected to touch Rs 20 lakh crore soon

The AUM of the mutual fund industry touches Rs 16.93 lakh
crore at the end of quarter October-December 2016, up from Rs 16.10 lakh crore
at the end of the previous quarter July-September 2016.

Reliance Mutual Fund outperformed the industry, adding Rs
12,717 crore to its AUM during October-December 2016 and narrowing the gap
between itself and the two other top players-ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund and
HDFC Mutual Fund.

After losing the five-match Test series 0-4, England will
return from their Christmas and New Year break for the limited overs leg of the
tour, which starts with the two practice games on January 10 and 12.

The tussle between Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and
chief minister V Narayanasamy is becoming bitter day by day.

Kiran Bedi has cancelled a circular issued under the instructions
of Narayanasamy directing government servants to desist from using social media
for official work.

Bedi strongly advocated use of social media for official
work and formed several WhatsApp groups

According to Bedi, the "circular dated January 2 of the
department of personnel and administrative reforms (personnel wing) has been
issued in contravention of guidelines, rules and policies in force and is
hereby declared null and void with immediate effect.

She also posted a copy of the order in her official Twitter
account stating, "If Puducherry has to be a progressive UT, it cannot be
retrograde in communications.

Earlier, in a circular on January 2, the chief minister had
directed that all government officers should desist from use of social media
for official works.

No group shall be formed for official communication and they
should not be members of any official group run in such social media nor
interact with seniors bypassing the administrative hierarchy and routine
official channel.

Strict compliance should be ensured by all concerned and
violation, if any, of these instructions brought to notice shall invite
disciplinary action and further penal action as per rules in force.

However, if it is essential and unavoidable, written
permission should be taken from chief secretary for using social media for
official work.

The circular banning officials using social media came
immediately after Bedi suspended a Puducherry civil services (PCS) officer A S
Sivakumar , registrar of cooperative societies for posting an obscene video in
an official WhatsApp group.

Bedi strongly advocated the use of social media for official
work and formed several WhatsApp groups to review the progress of various
schemes.

Bedi justified, it is the policy of the Union government to
use social media for government official purposes.

Meanwhile, Election Commission of India secretary Malay
Mallick has directed the Puducherry chief secretary to stay the suspension of
Sivakumar, who is also electoral registration officer (ERO), as his services
are required for final publication of electoral rolls revised under his charge.

The suspension of Sivakumar has created a vacuum as regards
the post of electoral registration officer, who is currently associated with
the crucial and time bound ongoing electoral roll revision process.

The commission may be apprised of the allegations against
Sivakumar to enable it to consider whether he may be allowed continue as ERO or
not.

Mallick seeking a compliance report latest by January 5.

It is noted that, Kiran bedi was the first woman IPS officer of India.

It became the world's first handset that comes with a
massive 8GB of RAM - at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2017).

It is the first smartphone that will be Tango-enabled and
Daydream-ready.

Tango is a set of sensors and computer-vision software by
Google that enables unique augmented reality (AR) user experiences on a
smartphone, such as AR gaming, AR utilities and indoor navigation.

Daydream is Google's platform for high quality, mobile
virtual reality and supports Daydream VR apps. ZenFone AR was developed in
close cooperation with Google to deliver the best Tango and Daydream
experiences.

The smartphone comes with ASUS TriCam, a three-camera system
consisting of a 23MP main camera, motion-tracking camera, and depth-sensing
camera and runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.

ZenFone AR is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor,
features a 5.7-inch WQHD Super AMOLED display and a new five-magnet speaker
makes Daydream VR apps, games, and videos more immersive and entertaining.

Former Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, legendary Prakash
Padukone are a part of the nine-member government panel.

The panel is formed to make recommendations for bringing out
a comprehensive National Sports Development Code across all disciplines.

The committee will be headed by Sports Secretary Injeti Srinivas.

It will study issues related to sports governance including
court judgements and best international practices.

The other notable sportsperson in the committee is India's
lone world championship medallist athlete Anju Bobby George.

International hockey federation (FIH) president Narinder
Batra, gymnast Dipa Karmakar's coach Bishweshwar Nandi, lawyer Nandan Kamath
and sports journalist Vijay Lokapally are also a part of the committee. The
joint secretary sports (MYAS) is the ninth member.

The Government has decided to constitute the Committee to
study the existing sports governance frame work, issues relating to sports
governance in the country, recent developments related to sports governance..

It also vigil the court judgments & international best
practices and make recommendations on bringing out a comprehensive National
Sports Development Code across sports disciplines.

Over 30 Indian-origin innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders
have been featured in the 2017 edition of Forbes' list of super achievers under
the age of 30 who seek to break the status quo and transform the world.

The Forbes list has 30 game changers in 20 industries
including healthcare, manufacturing, sports and finance.

The 600 in the list are "challenging the conventional
wisdom and rewriting the rules for the next generation of entrepreneurs,
entertainers, educators and more.

They are passionate and formidable bunch, and for good
reason.

Their goal is nothing short of breaking the status quo and
transforming the world.

The group has over 30 men and women who are of Indian-origin
and are making a mark in their fields.

The list includes 27-year-old Vivek Kopparthi, cofounder of
NeoLight that has developed a phototherapy device that is portable for use at
home for jaundice.

The company is also working on a second tool to treat infant
hypothermia.

Prarthna Desai, 27, left her Harvard graduate school
programme to use drones to get medication to people in the developing world.

In her operations role at the healthcare company Zipline,
she is leading efforts to integrate the medicine- delivery-by-drone service
with the healthcare system in Rwanda.

Shaun Patel, 28, is the orthopedic surgery chief resident at
Harvard Medical School and has dozens of scientific publications in surgery
journals.

His company, OrthoNinja, aims to streamline communication
between doctors by creating a mobile app that allows doctors to consult with
one another.

Rohan Suri, 17 is the founder of Averia Health Solutions and
has developed an improved concussion test.

In the law and policy category is 27 year old Varun Sivaram,
Acting Director: Energy Security and Climate Change in leading think tank
Council on Foreign Relations.

Sivaram completed his PhD at Oxford University and is on the
advisory boards for Stanford's energy and environment institutes.

He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University teaching
"clean energy innovation" and previously, he advised Hillary
Clinton's campaign on energy policy.

In manufacturing and industry, Neha Gupta, 28, played a role
in the sale of Beats by Dre to Apple.

She manages manufacturing and supply chain for DAQRI, which
makes augmented reality headsets to improve safety and efficiency for
industrial workers.

Featured in the social entrepreneurs category is Aditya
Agarwalla, 23, Cofounder of Kisan Network, The Princeton University dropout
co-founded the Kisan Network, which is an online marketplace for small-scale
farmers in India.

In the sports category is Akshay Khanna, 29, Vice President
of Strategy for American football team Philadelphia 76ers.

Among the top guns in the venture capital sector is Anarghya
Vardhana, 28, who joined the firm Maveron after spending a year at Rothenberg
Ventures, where she launched a virtual reality accelerator and sourced and made
seed investments in a dozen startups in the virtual reality space.

Akshay Goyal, 28, is the Vice President of Starwood Capital.

The youngest vice president in Starwood's history when he
was promoted at the age 26, Goyal focuses on hotel acquisitions and has helped
drive over USD 7 billion in deals.

Recently he helped sell a portfolio of 240 US hotels to
China Life for USD 2 billion.

In the consumer technology sector is Ajay Yadav, 29, who is
the founder of Roomi, a startup app that lets users find the right roommate to
live with, chat with each other, search for listings, apply for an apartment
and pay rent.

Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju tendered an
unconditional apology on Friday to earn reprieve from criminal contempt
proceedings initiated against him by the apex court for his rasping 'personal
criticism' of a sitting SC judge.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and U U Lalit, which had
exempted Justice Katju from personal appearance after he tendered unconditional
apology, dropped the criminal contempt proceedings initiated against him on
November 11.

Justice Katju had written two blogs casting aspersions on
Justice Gogoi's legal knowledge while criticising a judgement by a Justice
Gogoi headed bench to set aside the death penalty of the convict in Kerala's
sensational Soumya rape-cum-murder case.

The convict was handed out a life sentence for sexual
assault.

Katju later filed an application tendering unconditional
apology for writing the blogs.

India Govt bans import of fox fur and crocodile skin
- 07 Jan 17

Highlights:

India has banned import of exotic skins of reptiles like
crocodiles and alligators and furs of certain animals including foxes and minks
which are used to manufacture leather or for fur clothing and accessories.

This is done to reduce the extreme suffering of reptiles
& other animals killed for leather or fur clothing

A notification to this effect was issued by the directorate
general of foreign trade (DGFT) on January 3.

The directorate prohibited import of the skins of reptiles
and the fur of chinchillas as well as minks and foxes to emending the trade
policy of India.

The Union women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi
has supported such decision.

The stunt animal rights activist had made several
representations to the environment and commerce ministries seeking ban on such
import.

India is gradually emulating the nations across the world in
adopting "cruelty free" alternatives to reduce suffering to animals.

PETA India claimed that it was the first to write to the
Inspector General of Forests in the Environment Ministry in 2014 and
communicated with Union Minister Maneka Gandhi about banning the import of all
exotic skins and fur products.

In 2015, the group met with Commerce Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman, urging her to ban the import of all exotic skins and fur.

Earlier, imports of such items were subject to Wild Life
(Protection) Act, 1972 and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

IRCTC to launch new App for faster booking of tickets - 07 Jan 17

Highlights:

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)
Limited going to launch a new ticketing App.

The App will have several features added on the existing one
for faster booking of tickets.

The App is equipped with latest technology.

The existing IRCTC Connect will now become IRCTC Rail
Connect to facilitate booking of train tickets in a faster and easier way.

Presently, IRCTC handles
online train ticket bookings.

It will formally unveil the IRCTC Rail Connect App next week
to cater to the growing demand of passengers to make the ticketing App more
user-friendly and faster.

The new ticketing App will be based on next generation
e-ticketing system. It will be synchronised with the ticketing website also,
which is missing in the current system.

Travellers will continue to be able to search and book train
tickets, check their existing reservations or cancel them, and get upcoming
journey alerts in the new application.

IRCTC Rail Connect will retain the passenger details for the
recently-booked tickets, so that they don’t have to enter their details again
and again.

The satellite was launched late last night by a Long
March-3B carrier rocket.

China also plans to conduct a "record" number of
30 space launch missions this year as part of its efforts to expand its
ambitious space programme.

The record-breaking number space launches will be launched
by Long March-5 and Long March-7 rockets.

The successful test launch of the vehicle in November in
South China's Hainan Province will pave the way for space station construction.

China recently released an official white paper on space
stating that it will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve world's first soft
landing on the far side of the moon and a mission to Mars in 2018.

Earlier, World's first quantum satellite is launched in Jiuquan, Gansu Province, China on August 16, 2016.

Both countries also signed a joined declaration for
cooperation in third countries which will encourage their private sector to
undertake joint economic, commercial and industrial projects and investments in
third countries to boost growth.

China to set up world's highest altitude telescopes close to India border - 08 Jan 17

Highlights:

China is setting up the world's highest altitude
gravitational wave telescopes in a Tibet prefecture close to Line of Actual
Control with India.

The total budget of the project is US$ 18.8 million.

The purpose is to detect faintest echoes resonating from
universe which may reveal more about the Big Bang theory.

Construction has already
started for the first telescope.

The code-named is satellite is Ngari No 1, located 30 km
south of Shiquanhe Town in Ngari Prefecture.

It has supervised by the National Astronomical Observatories
of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The telescope, located 5,250 meters above sea level.

It will detect and gather precise data on primordial
gravitational waves in the Northern Hemisphere.

It is expected to be operational by 2021.

The second phase involves a series of telescopes, code-named
Ngari No 2, to be located about 6,000 meters above sea level.

The budget for the two-phase Ngari gravitational wave
observatory is an estimated 130 million yuan (US$ 18.8 million).

The project was initiated by the Institute of High Energy
Physics, National Astronomical Observatories, and Shanghai Institute of
Microsystem and Information Technology.

Ngari, with its high altitude, clear sky and minimal human
activity is said to be one of the world's best spots to detect tiny twists in
cosmic light.

The Ngari observatory will be among the world's top
primordial gravitational wave observation bases, alongside the South Pole
Telescope and the facility in Chile's Atacama Desert.

Gravitational waves were first proposed by Albert Einstein's
theory of general relativity 100 years ago, but it wasn't until 2016 that
scientists with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory
announced proof of the waves' existence, spurring fresh research interest among
the world's scientists.

Last September, China commissioned the world's largest radio
telescope in a mountainous region of southwest China's Guizhou Province to
search for more strange objects space, gain better understand the origin of the
universe and to boost the global hunt for extraterrestrial life.

The installation of the telescope's main structure - a
4,450-panel reflector as large as 30 football pitches was built at unique
valley in Guizhou Province.

His last appearance was in a Pakistani comedy film, Actor in
Law, which had released in September 2016.

He also had lent his voice for the character of Bagheera in
The Jungle Book.

He had won two time National Award winner for his roles in
Arohan and Ardh Sathya.

He was honoured with Padmashree award of India in 1990.

UN declares 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development - 08 Jan 17

Highlights:

World's highest international organization ,the United Nations Organization (UNO) has declared the
year 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

The declaration recalls the potential of tourism sector to
advance the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and 17 Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).

The aims to support a change in business
practices, policies and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism
sector that can contribute effectively to achieve targets of the SDGs.

It will promote tourism sector’s role in five key areas: -

1. Inclusive and sustainable economic growth

2. Social inclusiveness, employment
and poverty reduction

3. Cultural values, diversity and heritage

4. Resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change

5. Mutual
understanding, peace and security.

14th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas begins in Bengaluru - 08 Jan 17

Highlights:

The 14th edition of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) began in
the country’s IT hub Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme of this edition is
“Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”.

On the first day of three day event, ‘Youth Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas’ was inaugurated as part of the PBD 2017 with an aim to connect
with the youth, the new generation of Pravasis growing up all over the world.

The main convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Indian-origin Portugal Prime Minister, Dr. Antonio Costa who
is the chief guest in the PBD convention.

What is Pravasi
Bharatiya Diwas ?

This is an annual event organised since 2003 by Ministry of
External Affairs.

The main aim is to foster greater interaction between the
Indian Diaspora and Indian government.

It is a very important platform for engagement of the Union
Government and the state governments with the overseas Indian community.

It provides the single platform to Indian diaspora to put
forth their issues and grievances before the government and in turn government
can leverage their resources in nation building activities.

It is held annually on 9 January to mark the return of
Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India i.e. on 9 January, 1915.

Aadhaar mandatory for MGNREGS work from April 1, 2017 - 08 Jan 17

Highlights:

Aadhaar card to be
mandatory for MGNREGS work from April 1,2017.

People living in rural areas need to have Aadhaar under
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) that
mandates 100 days work for a household annually.

People registered under the scheme will be required to give
proof of possession of Aadhaar or undergo the enrolment process till March 31,
2017.

However, ration card, driving licence, voter identity card,
Kisan passbook with photo, job card issued under MGNREGS and a certificate
issued by a gazetted officer or a tehsildar will be admissible as proof of
identity for people to get the benefits under the scheme till the time they get
Aadhaar.

Those who have applied for Aadhaar can show their enrolment
slip or copy of application made to the authorities concerned for getting the
12-digit unique identification number which acts as a proof of identity and
address anywhere in the country.

Per capita income of Indians to cross Rs 1 lakh in FY-20117 - 09 Jan 17

Highlights:

India’s per capita income, a gauge for measuring living
standard, is estimated to cross Rs 1 lakh in 2016-17, up from Rs 93,293 in the
previous fiscal.

As per the ‘First Advance Estimates of National Income,
2016-17’ released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the per capita net
national income during 2016-17 is “estimated to be Rs 103,007” at current
prices.

This is higher by 10.4 % compared to Rs 93,293 during
2015-16.

The per capita income in real terms (at 2011-12 prices)
during 2016-17 is likely to attain a level of Rs 81,805 as compared to Rs
77,435 for the year 2015-16.

At constant prices, the growth rate in per capita income is
estimated at 5.6 % during 2016-17, as against 6.2 % in the previous year.

India’s GDP is expected to slowdown to 7.1 % during 2016-17
from 7.6 % in the previous fiscal mainly due to slump in manufacturing, mining
and construction activities.

The CSO did not figure in the impact of demonetisation,
effected on November 9 and the estimates are based on sectoral data available
till October.

The CSO projections on national income are in line with the
Reserve Bank’s estimates, which too had lowered the GDP growth prospects to 7.1
%.

Power Minister Piyush Goyal will unveil world’s largest
street light replacement programme in South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC)
area today.

In this programme, two lakh LED lights will replace
inefficient lamps.

Mr. Goyal will also launch a mobile app called EESL
Complaint App for SDMC, wherein users can now lodge complaints about faulty
street lights.

Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP), currently running
in the SDMC area is the World’s Largest Street Light Replacement Programme.

The initiative under the Street Lighting National Programme
being implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited of Ministry of
Power.

It will save 6.10 crore units of electricity per year thus
reducing the electricity bill by 54 %.

Out of total 15.40 lakh street lights replaced with LEDs in
the country, Delhi has exhibited an excellent performance by replacing two lakh
conventional street lights with the LED lights in the shortest possible time

Delhi has also crossed the target of 50 % saving in the
expenditure on street lighting as mandated in the Street Lighting National
Programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 5, 2015.

The eco-friendly LEDs will help curb release of carbon
dioxide gas in the atmosphere by 44,000 tonne per year.

SDMC and SECI have inked an MoU for providing solar panel on
the roof top of 400 municipal buildings.

In the first phase only 40 buildings have been selected for
installation of 2.5 MW solar roof top panels and the cost of installation, Rs
17 crore, will be recovered within 7 years.

The SDMC will get free electricity up to 18 years and will
be able to sell the surplus power to the discoms.

Govt asks banks to obtain PAN from account holders - 09 Jan 17

Highlights:

The government has asked banks to obtain permanent account
number (PAN) or Form-60 if PAN is not available, from all bank account holders
by February 28, 2017.

The main purpose is to tight the tax evaders.

Income-tax Rules have
been amended to provide that bank shall obtain and link PAN or Form No. 60 (where
PAN is not available) in all existing bank accounts (other than BSBDA) by
February 28, 2017, if not already done.

The persons who are having bank accounts but have not
submitted PAN or Form No 60 are advised to submit the PAN or Form No 60 to the
bank by February 28, 2017.

However, this rule will not apply to Basic Savings Bank
Deposit Accounts (BSBDA), which are zero balance savings accounts, including Jandhan
accounts.

The BSBDA were introduced to take care of simple banking
needs of people, which come with free ATM card, monthly statement and cheque
book.

Last month, RBI had mandated that no withdrawal shall be
allowed from the accounts having substantial credit balance/deposits if PAN or
Form No.60 is not provided in respect of such accounts.

After 6 decade in India people still ask what is PAN card
and Do we need apply for one .

The banks and post offices had also been mandated to submit
information in respect of cash deposits from April 1, 2016 to November 8, 2016
in accounts where the cash deposits during the period November 9, 2016 to
December 30, 2016 exceeds the specified limits.

It has also been provided under the new rules that person
who is required to obtain PAN or Form No.60 shall record the PAN/Form.No.60 in
all the documents and quote the same in all the reports submitted to the
Income-tax Department.

The Parliamentary committee probing demonetisation move has
asked RBI governor to appear before it on January 20.

The panel has asked Patel to explain how the decision of
demonetisation was taken.

It has also sought details on impact of the move on the
country's economy.

The parliamentary committee has sent Reserve Bank of India
governor Urijit Patel a list of questions on the demonetisation process.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked Patel to
explain how the decision for demonetisation was taken, and for details on its
impact on the country's economy.

The PAC has asked Patel to provide details on the value of
currency that has been returned to the bank, the quantity of "black
money" it has received and the amount of new currency released so far.

The PAC has also called other finance ministry officials,
including Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia and Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa.

Pressure on the central bank and Patel has grown since Prime
Minister Narendra Modi stunned the country on November 8 by announcing the
withdrawal of legal tender for the old 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, removing 86 %
of the currency in circulation in a bid to crack down on the "shadow
economy".

The RBI has issued over 50 circulars on demonetisation since
the announcement.

In fact, in just the first fortnight after November 8, the
central bank issued as many as 27 circulars in direct response to the fallout
of the note ban.

Last month, the RBI unexpectedly kept its key policy rate
unchanged at 6.25 %, despite calls for action in the face of an intense cash
shortage that threatens to slam the brakes on world's fastest-growing large
economy.

The bank was widely expected to cut the rate by at least 25
bps.

The RBI governor has also been asked about the country's
preparedness to handle cashless transactions, which the Narendra Modi has
promoted after demonetisation by announcing lucky draws and several other
incentivising measures.

It has already initiated steps for automatic hook up points
through wireless network.

BSNL plans to connect 1,518 gram panchayats with Optical
Fibre Cable (OFC) this year in Assam to ensure rural connectivity.

It has emphasised on rural connectivity and 5,200 kms of OFC
will be laid this year to cover 1,518 gram panchayats, which accounts 70 % of
the total gram panchayats in the state.

Kshetri Gaon Panchayat in Kamrup district is likely to
become the first digital gram panchayat of the country.

High-speed network will be installed in Guwahati by March
this year and BSNL has taken steps for automatic hook up point through wireless
network.

There would be 3000 access points (hot spots) at important
points.

BSNL has tied-up with SBI and will soon launch an e-wallet
called Mobicash after demonetisation.

A target has been set to make one lakh people digitally
literate by March and 25 lakh by 2022.

Assam government has taken a holistic approach to make 25
lakh people digitally literate by 2022.

Assam government has set the target to provide television,
internet and telephone connection through a single connection to provide
financial benefit to the people.

Polish-born prominent sociologist Zygmunt Bauman died - 10 Jan 17

Highlights:

Zygmunt Bauman, one of the most prominent and prolific
European sociologists of recent decades, has died at the age of 91, his home in
Leeds, England.

The Polish-born left-wing thinker’s works explored the
fluidity of identity in the modern world, the Holocaust, consumerism and
globalisation.

He was renowned for an approach that incorporated philosophy
and other disciplines.

Bauman was a strong moral voice for the poor and
dispossessed in a world upended by globalisation.

In the 1990s, Bauman coined the term “liquid modernity” to
describe a contemporary world in such flux that individuals are left rootless
and bereft of any predictable frames of reference.

In books including Liquid Times and Liquid Modernity he
explored the frailty of human connection in such times and the insecurity that
a constantly changing world creates.

In Poland, he was a controversial figure in some circles.

In 2006, a right-wing historian uncovered documents showing
that Bauman served as an officer in a Stalinist-era military organisation, the
Internal Security Corps, which helped to impose communism on the nation by
killing resisters to the regime.

Bauman acknowledged belonging to that unit, but he insisted
that he only had a desk job. No evidence has surfaced linking him to any
killings.

Beyond Poland, Bauman’s theories were a major influence on
the anti-globalisation movement.

He focused on the outcasts and the marginalised, describing
how many people have seen their chances of a dignified life destroyed by the
new borderless world.

As a result, he found a following in Spain and Italy, where
young adults were hit especially hard by economic dislocation in recent years.

Brief History:

Bauman was born November 19, 1925, in Poznan, Poland, into a
Jewish family.

In childhood, he had suffered poverty and anti-Semitism,
something that inspired his lifelong belief in tolerance and social justice.

Bauman studied sociology, then philosophy, at the University
of Warsaw, and was teaching there when the communist regime waged an
anti-Semitic campaign in 1968.

He lost his job and he and his family were expelled from the
country along with thousands of other Polish Jews.

Though he was a vocal critic of Israel’s treatment of the
Palestinians, once likening the West Bank to the Warsaw Ghetto, Bauman lived
and taught for a short time in Israel.

He lectured at universities in Tel Aviv and Haifa from 1969
to 1971, before he and his family settled in Britain.

Bauman headed the Department of Sociology at the University
of Leeds until his retirement in 1990, but continued to write prolifically even
after his retirement, often producing a book a year.

Among his numerous honors were the European Amalfi Prize for
Sociology in 1992, the Theodor W. Adorno Award in 1998 and the Prince of
Asturias Award in 2010.

The University of Leeds also created the Bauman Institute in
his honor, dedicated to many of his concerns, including ethics, consumerism,
globalization and modernity.

Bauman’s wife of 62 years, Janina Bauman, died in 2009.

He is survived by his second wife, Aleksandra
Jasinska-Kania, the daughter of postwar Polish president Boleslaw Bierut, three
daughters and several grandchildren.

Transformer maker, the Swiss company ABB won a $640 million
contract for a 1,830-km (1,137-mile) power link in India to connect thermal and
wind power plants with the country's growing urban areas.

ABB won the contract from Power Grid Corporation of India.

Power Grid Corporation of Indiais the national electricity
grid operator.

It has to provide equipment for an ultra-high-voltage 800
kilovolt system between Raigarh in central India and Pugalur, in the southern
state of Tamil Nadu.

The system, one of the longest in the world.

It will have the capacity to supply electricity to 80
million people once it is completed in 2019.

Proment Actress Waheeda Rehman included in Padma panel - 10 Jan 17

Highlights:

Actress Waheeda Rehman and political and economic commentator
S. Gurumurthy are included in the 19-member panel to select the Padma award
winners this year.

The civilian awards of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and
Padma Shri are announced on the eve of Republic Day.

Nearly 150 persons will get the awards this year.

This is the first time the Home Ministry has invited
nominations online.

The government has recommended the name of Mufti Mohammad
Sayeed, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, for a posthumous Padma
Vibhushan, the highest in the Padma category and the second highest civilian
award in the country.

Atal Pension Scheme may be change; maximum entry age to be raised to 50 - 10 Jan 17

Highlights:

The government may
some change in the Atal Pension Yojana by adding more slabs of
guaranteed pension and raising the maximum age limit for entering the scheme to
50 years.

The current maximum guaranteed pension is Rs 5,000 per
month.

All suggestions are being deliberated. One is to add slabs
in the minimum guaranteed pension amount.

The highest slab could be up to Rs 10,000.

At present, the minimum age of joining the scheme is 18
years and maximum is 40 years.

Under APY, the age of exit and start of pension is 60 years.

The minimum period of contribution by a subscriber under APY
is 20 years or more.

An individual has to contribute Rs 1,454 per month if she
enrolls in APY at the age of 40 to stand eligible for a monthly pension of Rs
5,000.

There are 39 lakh subscribers in APY till December 2016 with
assets under management (AUM) worth Rs 1,498 crore.

APY is managed by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA).

It has suggested extending capital gains regime applicable
to mutual funds to National Pension System Tier II accounts.

Tier II account under NPS is a voluntary savings facility
and the subscriber can withdraw her savings at any juncture.

The account, however, can only be opened if the subscriber
has an active Tier I account, which is a permanent retirement account.

There are 1.02 crore subscribers under NPS with a total AUM
of Rs 1.60 lakh crore.

The pension regulator has also demanded the EEE-status
(Exempt, Exempt, Exempt) for NPS on the lines of EPF and the Public Provident
Fund (PPF), where maturity amount is not taxed at withdrawal either.

Presently, PFRDA chairman is Hemant Contractor.

Southern state Tamil Nadu joins UDAY scheme - 10 Jan 17

Highlights:

The southern state became the 21st state to join Ujwal
Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY).

It is also one of four states with largest accumulated debt
of over Rs 40,000 crore.

After having dithered for over a year, Tamil Nadu on Monday
signed up for the center’s scheme for revival of financially stressed
state-owned power distribution companies.

UDAY has now covered 92% of country’s discom debt.

Tamil Nadu would
derive an overall net benefit of approximately Rs 11,000 crores through UDAY,
by way of savings in interest cost, reduction in AT&C and transmission
losses, interventions in energy efficiency, coal reforms etc.

Other states with huge debt burden include Haryana,
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, all of which are part of the scheme.

Iran’s ex-President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani dead - 11 Jan 17

Highlights:

Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died after
suffering a heart attack in Tehran at the age of 82.

He was a pugnacious political survivor despite his support
for moderates.

Mr. Rafsanjani was a pivotal figure in the foundation of the
Islamic Republic in 1979.

He had served as President from 1989 to 1997.

Mr. Rafsanjani’s death is a huge loss for both reformists
and moderates, as he stood as a pillar for the two camps.

Mr. Rafsanjani was born on August 25, 1934, in the village
of Nough in southern Iran into a wealthy family.

He studied theology in the holy city of Qom before entering
politics in 1963 after Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s police arrested the founder
of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

A confidant of Khomeini, Mr. Rafsanjani was the Speaker of
Parliament for two consecutive terms until Khomeini’s death in 1989.

Mr. Rafsanjani’s presidency, a breathing space after the end
of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War.

He was marked by reconstruction, cautious reform and repairs
to Iran’s relations with its Arab neighbours.

After serving a maximum two consecutive terms, Mr.
Rafsanjani played an important role in the election of the reformist Mohammad
Khatami, who succeeded him as President from 1997 to 2005.

Mr. Rafsanjani chaired the influential committee for several
years.

Anti-avoidance tax rule to kick in from April 2017 - 11 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to CBDT Legislation against tax avoidance, GAAR will kick in from April 1, 2017.

The Central Board of Direct Taxes, the apex policy making
body of the I-T department, listed its major achievements in its 2016 year-end
review.

Major achievements of CBDT in the current financial year
2016-17 so far include, among others, Enactment of The Benami Transactions
(Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016, Implementation of The Direct Tax Dispute
Resolution Scheme, 2016 and of GAAR from Assessment Year 2018-19.

In May last year, CBDT had started consultation with
stakeholders asking them to give their views where they require clarity before
GAAR is implemented.

General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) was part of the 2012-13
Budget speech of the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to check tax
evasion and avoidance.

However, its implementation was repeatedly postponed because
of the apprehensions expressed by foreign investors.

What is GAAR ?

GAAR stands for General
Anti-Avoidance Rule.

It was originally to be implemented from April 1, 2014.

It will now come into effect from April 1, 2017 (Assessment
Year 2018-19).

It contains provision allowing the government to
prospectively tax overseas deals involving local assets.

There have been fears that the government may use it to
target P-Notes.

Through the use of GAAR, government may try to tax P-Notes
as indirect investments, which could attract a tax rate of up to 15 per cent,
experts say.

To avoid tax altogether under GAAR, an investor may have to
prove that P-Notes were not set up specifically to avoid paying taxes.

Earlier,Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had in his Budget
speech in 2015, deferred GAAR implementation by two years and also the
investments made up to March 31, 2017 shall not be subjected to GAAR, which was
to be applied on those claiming tax benefit of over Rs. 3 crore.

Citibank launches voice password in India - 11 Jan 17

Highlights:

Citibank announced the launch of Voice Biometrics Authentication for its customer banking clients that will help it save 1 lakh customer hours annually.

The new technology allows clients to use their voiceprints for authentication rather than having to remember multiple PINs or respond to questions used for verifying their identities.

The voice biometrics authentication capability uses voiceprint, similar to fingerprint, which is unique to each person.

Each voiceprint will be uniquely tagged and cannot be emulated or reused once stored.

Under the new authentication solution client verification is automatically completed within 15 seconds, a reduction from the average 45 seconds spent verifying their details currently on the banks phone banking system which receives an average of 12.5 million calls annually.

Voice biometrics authentication is being rolled out in phases in all 12 of Citi’s consumer banking markets in Asia Pacific, representing more than half of the bank’s 19 consumer markets globally.

As most of its customers in India migrate to voice biometrics as the preferred authentication platform, it estimates an annual save of around 100,000 customer hours.

This will create opportunities for our Citiphone officers in India to engage with our customers in a holistic manner and provide more value-added services to them.

The two countries are tied together with strong civilisational, cultural, economic and political links.

The Minister also expressed satisfaction over the improvements in services offered to pilgrims which indicates Saudi Arabia's firm commitment towards welfare and betterment of pilgrims.

The NDA government has started issuing Haj applications from January 2. The last date for submission of applications is January 24.

Saudi Arabia is under major financial crisis and they have no option but to increase the quota of Haj pilgrimage.

On January 2, the Minister had launched the Haj Committee of India mobile application to help pilgrims apply online.

Indian Embassy launched Portal on education in Germany for Indian students - 11 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Indian Embassy in Berlin has launched a portal for
Indian students to ease their transition and to keep them abreast of
opportunities and events back home.

The portal- www.indianstudentsgermany.org. (ISG),provides information to Indian students studying, or aspiring to study, in
Germany by disseminating information on job opportunities, internships,
scholarships, accommodation, visa and student related issues.

It serves as an extended arm of the mission to reach out to
the Indian students.

The ISG platform now has 16 student associations and over
2,600 students registered on the database.

Germany offers low-cost or even free education to students
at its schools and universities.

The country is becoming an attraction for Indian students,
with their numbers tripling in the last six years.

Through its cultural wing, the embassy also gives support to
some Indian students' associations in Germany to celebrate annual festivals
from time to time.

Most of the Indian students here are involved in research in
scientific and technological aspects and participate in the high standards of
German education in these sectors.

Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn has asked for certain
amendments in the country's new constitution before it is passed.

The monarch has sought amendment of three-to-four issues in
the section devoted to the authority and role of the king.

The Prime Minister will amend the section dedicated to the
king, the only section remaining from the constitution which was abolished
after the coup in 2014.

It is not specify which points were to be modified in the
section on the monarch, which determines his powers and authority to appoint
members of the Privy Council and bestow noble titles, among others.

The amendment of the interim constitution, approved in a
referendum on August 7, 2016.

It will be done within a month and will be transposed into
the new constitution in another three months before the document will be
presented to the king for his approval.

Prayut's announcement comes a day after Vice Prime Minister
Wissanu Krea-ngam warned that the new constitution will remain invalid if it is
not approved by the king before February 6, when the legal deadline expires.

The new constitution is part of the roadmap designed by the
military junta to restore democracy in the country with elections expected to
be held later this year.

The draft was composed by a team of 21 members handpicked by
the junta, and it serves to consolidate the power of the military and state
bodies controlled by bureaucrats in the political sphere, while weakening the
elected government.

This is the 20th constitution that Thailand has adopted
since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932.

Foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation will meet in Kuala Lumpur.

The main purpose is to discuss the Rohingya Muslim crisis as
thousands continue to flee Myanmar.

At present, the organization has fifty-six members nations.

All OIC representatives are expected to attend the January
19 meeting.

The meeting will be led by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak, who recently called on Myanmar to stop the "genocide" of
Rohingya Muslims.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar refuses to recognise the Rohingya
as one of the country's ethnic minorities, instead describing them as Bengalis -or
illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh - even though many have lived
in Myanmar for generations.

There has been a large exodus of Rohingya from northern
Myanmar's Rakhine state after the army launched clearance operations while
searching for insurgents behind deadly raids on police border posts three
months ago.

Escapees from the persecuted Muslim minority in Bangladesh
have given harrowing accounts of security forces committing mass rape, murder
and arson.

The stories have cast a pall over the young government of
Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, with Muslim-majority Malaysia being especially
critical.

In November, Kuala Lumpur summoned the Myanmar ambassador
while around 500 Malaysians and Rohingya protested outside the embassy.

Malaysian minister has also called on ASEAN, the ten-country
Southeast Asia bloc, to review Myanmar's membership, accused Myanmar of
engaging in "ethnic cleansing.

India announces $100 million Line of Credit to Kenya - 12 Jan 17

Highlights:

India has announced a $100 million Line of Credit to Kenya
for agricultural mechanisation .It was talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi on January 11,
2017.

Both leaders also decided to deepen economic cooperation,
identifying expansion of bilateral trade.

The Joint Business Council meeting tomorrow will work to
build commercial engagement through specific projects in these areas.

To boost trade, both countries are also cooperating on trade
facilitation measures, including standardisation and related areas.

Last year Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited to Kenya,the
two countries had identified deepening of economic cooperation as one of the
key focus areas and expansion of bilateral trade, greater flow of capital
between two economies and stronger developmental partnership are a priority.

Emphasising that broad-based and wide-ranging cooperation in
agriculture and food security was a shared priority,

The two sides were collaborating to raise agricultural
productivity in Kenya.

The Line of Credit Agreement of $100 million signed for agricultural
mechanisation would open a new dimension of engagement.

Long-term arrangement with Kenya for production and import
of pulses is being explored and discussed and to share best practices in
organic farming with Kenyan farmers.

Cristiano Ronaldo received FIFA’s best player award for the
fourth time, after Portugal and Real Madrid won both major European titles in
2016.

Ronaldo got 34.54 % of total voting points in a 23-candidate
ballot.

Messi received 26.42 %, and third-place Griezmann got 7.53 %.
Voting was by national team captains and coaches, selected media, and fans online.

Ronaldo’s fourth FIFA award closed the gap on five-time
winner Messi, the runner-up to each Ronaldo victory, who did not attend the
ceremony.

Ronaldo’s 2016 trophy haul included the European
Championship, Champions League, and Club World Cup, plus individual best player
awards from UEFA and France Football magazine.

Messi’s Barcelona won the Spanish league and cup double,
though he captained Argentina to lose the Copa America final.

Griezmann’s France and Atletico Madrid lost both finals to
Ronaldo’s teams.

Ronaldo’s coaches for club and country were beaten by
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, who earned the men’s coaching prize for a
stunning English Premier League title.

Ranieri collected his trophy from Diego Maradona, who earlier
played in an exhibition match with other retired greats at FIFA headquarters.

Like Ronaldo, Carli Lloyd of the United States won a FIFA
player prize for the second year in a row.

Lloyd won despite Germany midfielder Melanie Behringer
playing on the Olympic gold medal-winning team. Five-time winner Marta was
runner-up and Behringer was third.

Germany did win the women’s coaching prize as Silvia Neid
earned her second FIFA prize, after also winning the 2010 award.

Neid beat two previous winners- Pia Sundhage of Sweden, the
Olympic silver medalist, and last year’s winner, Jill Ellis of the United
States.

The Puskas Award for best goal was won by Mohd Faiz Subri,
who scored with a wildly swerving long-range free kick for Malaysian club
Penang.

The First FIFA fan award was chosen by fans and was made to
supporters of Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.

The other nominees were Iceland fans at Euro 2016, and Dutch
club ADO Den Haag, whose fans brought soft toys to children supporting rival
team Feyenoord.

FIFA made its Fair Play Award to Atletico Nacional, the
Colombian club which was scheduled to host Chapecoense in the first leg of the
Copa Sudamericana final on Nov. 30.

World top 10 wealthiest Nations: India placed 7th spot - 12 Jan 17

Highlights:

The ranking of India as one of the top 10 wealthiest
countries in the world is largely because of its large population.

It figures among the 10 wealthiest countries, with a total
individual wealth of $ 5,600 billion.

According to a report by New World Wealth, India is the
seventh wealthiest country in the world.

The U.S is the wealthiest No.1. in the world in terms of
total individual wealth held ($ 48,900 billion).

China stood second No.2 and Japan third No.3, with total
individual wealth of $ 17,400 billion and US$ 15,100 billion, respectively.

Others in the top 10 club include the United Kingdom (4)
with a total individual wealth of $ 9,200 billion, followed by Germany (5th, $
9,100 billion) and France (6th, $ 6,600 billion).

India (No.7) is followed by

No.8. Canada ($ 4,700 billion).

No.9. Australia ($
4,500 billion).

No.10. Italy ($ 4,400 billion).

Wealth refers to net assets of a person. It includes all
their assets (property, cash, equities, business interests) less any
liabilities, the report said adding that it excludes government funds from its
figures.

The ranking of India as one of the top 10 wealthiest
countries in the world is largely because of its large population.

Australia’s ranking is impressive, considering it only has
22 million people living there.

Over the past 5 years, China was the fastest growing
wealthiest country in terms of dollar wealth growth.

The study ranked the wealthiest countries in the world as of
June 2016 in terms of total individual wealth held.

India to be world’s third largest aviation market in next seven years - 12 Jan 17

Highlights:

According Civil Aviation Ministry, India become the world’s
third largest aviation market in next seven years.

The government would spent a sum of US$ 10 billion in next five years to
develop airport infrastructure in India.

As many as 400 unused airstrips across the country that had
become cattle grazing grounds, would be brought back to life.

The Civil Aviation Ministry was determined to maintain 23 %
growth rate achieved in the aviation sector in the country.

US$ 10 billion would be spent in next five years to develop
airport infrastructure.

Government’s aim is to become the third largest aviation
market in the next seven years.

India’s nearest rival in terms of aviation growth was China
with 14 %.

Progressive and proactive industry-friendly policies played
a significant part in Indian aviation’s growth story and not just the fall in
fuel prices.

Civil Aviation Ministry’s objective is to take the flight to
the masses and to this end we have come up with a progressive policy.

It also undertaken a very bold experiment called Regional
Air Connectivity Scheme at the national level.

For the first time, the civil aviation sector has achieved
rail parity.

The railways turnover is Rs 1.6 lakh crore, civil aviation
turnover touched Rs 1.4 lakh crore and the number of rail and air passengers
has also become almost equal.

The Civil Aviation Ministry organised the summit in
collaboration with Andhra Pradesh Government and FICCI, for the first time in
Vijayawada.

Presently, the Civil Aviation Minister is P Ashok Gajapati Raju,

China launches new electronic intelligence naval ship - 12 Jan 17

Highlights:

China's Navy has launched a new electronic reconnaissance
ship.

It is the latest addition to an expanding fleet and as
Beijing's new assertiveness to territorial claims in the South China Sea fuels
tensions.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) now operates six
electronic reconnaissance vessels.

China is building a second aircraft carrier. China's only
carrier is the second-hand, Soviet-built Liaoning, which this week unsettled
neighbours with drills in the disputed South China Sea.

The new electronic reconnaissance ship named as the CNS
Kaiyangxing or Mizar, with hull code 856, was on delivered to a combat support
flotilla of the North Sea Fleet at the eastern port of Qingdao.

The Kaiyangxing is capable of conducting all-weather,
round-the-clock reconnaissance on multiple and different targets.

Chinese ships now increasingly track and shadow U.S. and
Japanese warships in the South China and East China seas, even during routine
deployments.

China claims almost of the South China Sea, believed to have
huge deposits of oil and gas, through which about $5 trillion in ship-borne
trade passes every year, and has been building up military facilities like runways
on the islands it controls.

India's economy to grow 7% in 2017: World Bank - 13 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to the World Bank report India's GDP growth
estimate for this fiscal to 7 %, from its earlier estimate of 7.6 % made in
June last year.

The immediate withdrawal of a large volume of currency in
circulation and subsequent replacement with new notes announced by the government
in November contributed to slowing growth in 2016.

Weak industrial production and manufacturing and services
purchasing managers indexes further suggest a setback to activity in the fourth
quarter of F.Y -2017.

The World Bank, however, asserted that the country would
regain momentum in the following years with 7.6 and 7.8 % growth.

India is expected to regain its momentum, with growth rising
to 7.6 % in Fiscal Year(F.Y) 2018 and strengthening to 7.8 % in F.Y 2019-20.

India maintains the distinction of being the fastest growing
emerging market economies of the world, bypassing China.

Last week, India`s official statistician in New Delhi also
lowered the country`s gross domestic product growth estimates for 2016-17 to
7.1 %, compared with the 7.6 % growth in 2015-16.

The Reserve Bank of India acknowledged the demonetisation
factor and lowered their gross value added (GVA) growth estimates for the
current fiscal to 7.1% from the 7.6 % orecast earlier.

On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the
demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes.

The move was aimed to eliminate black money, counterfeit
currency and terror financing.

Care Ratings has developed a new credit rating framework for
infrastructure projects to facilitate greater participation of long-term
investors by enabling better risk-based pricing,

It has consultation with the Ministry of Finance and other
stakeholders.

The new ratings will be assigned on a scale from EL 1 to EL
7, with EL 1 having the lowest expected loss and EL 7 the highest.

The new ratings will be a comment on the expected loss (EL)
of a debt instrument after factoring in the probability of default and recovery
prospects.

The new credit rating addresses the concerns of the existing
approach and focuses on recovery of dues by investors or lenders over the
life cycle of an infrastructure project.

The new rating scale can be used to assess projects across
sub-sectors in infrastructure throughout their life cycle.

Initially, ratings will be assigned only to completed and
operational infrastructure projects. Conventional ratings scales will continue
to be used for capital provisioning, while the new scale will be an additional
input for debt market investors.

This rating system will go a long way in enhancing
participation of investors and lenders, which in turn will provide a fillip to
the development in the corporate bond market in these instruments.

What is CARE Rating ?

CARE's credit rating for debt instruments is a highly-valued
credit risk opinion, which helps the investors to effectively monitor and
manage investments based on their respective risk-return policies.

It deals with survey of debentures, bonds, asset-backed
securities etc.

CARE Ratings commenced operations in April 1993.

It has established itself as the second-largest credit
rating agency in India.

The minimum pension has been increased to Rs 9,000 per
person besides a two-fold hike in ex-gratia amount for central government
employees.

It was declared by Union Minister Jitendra Singh at the 29th
meeting of the Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA).

Almost 88 % of pension accounts have been seeded to Aadhaar.

There are about 50-55 lakh pensioners in India.

As per the data by Personnel Ministry, the minimum pension
has been increased to Rs 9,000 per person and ex-gratia amount has been
increased from Rs 10-15 lakh to Rs 25-35 lakh.

The SCOVA meeting is organised by the Department of Pensions
and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW).

There is a need to put in place an institutionalised
mechanism to make good use of the knowledge, experience and efforts of the
retired employees which can help in the value addition to the current scenario.

The retired employees are a healthy and productive workforce
for India and government need to streamline and channelise their energies in a
productive direction.

The meeting was attended by the member of pensioners
associations and senior officers of the important departments of the central
government.

According to PwC’s global economy watch (GEW), India grew
fastest among major economies worldwide at over 7.5 % in 2016 and will continue
to drive global growth in 2017 with its share in the world GDP expected to rise
to 17 %.

Asia will remain the fastest growing region of the world,
but the spotlight will shift away from China to India and Indonesia.

Indonesia is set to become the world’s 16th trillion dollar
economy.

As per the projections Chinese growth to remain at around
the 6 % mark, while India’s contribution to world GDP growth could reach almost
17 % this year.

The study noted that China will feel the costs of higher
private sector debt burden.

China’s non-financial sector debt stands at more than 250 %
of GDP.

If non-financial debt grows at the same average rate as it
has since 2010, China could add over USD 650 billion to its total debt pile by
the end of 2017.

Economists predict that globalisation will take a backseat
this year and world trade is expected to see slow growth.

The resurgence of economic nationalism in some parts of the
world means World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules will be put to the test.

The world’s biggest bilateral trade route (US-China) is
likely to come under pressure.

The four-day event aims at promoting digital economy, and
has been organised jointly by the Centre and states.

Vivekananda is an inspiration to youth all over the world.

Born Narendra Nath Datta in an affluent family and raised in
Kolkata.

Swami Vivekananda died at the age of 39.

He was always intrigued by spirituality and philosophy and,
in his short life, managed to inspire millions.

Last year,PM had recalled Swami Vivekananda's historic
Chicago speech while paying tribute to the victims of 9/11.

11th September...two contrasting images come to the mind. i.e.
gruesome 9/11 attacks. On this day in 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his
historic speech in Chicago & won many hearts & minds.

Swami Vivekananda's speech at the first Parliament of the
World's Religions in Chicago is considered among his most significant
contributions to the world.

N Chandrasekaran is named as new Chairman of Tata Sons - 14 Jan 17

Highlights:

Tata Consultancy Services CEO Nataraja Chandrasekaran was named
the new Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the $103 billion Tata
Group.

Chandrasekaran 's appointment comes less than three months
after Cyrus Mistry was removed as chairman on October 24.

Mistry's dismissal led to a bitter spat between him and
group patriarch Ratan Tata, who has served as interim Chairman since his
departure.

Rajesh Gopinathan has been appointed TCS' new CEO.

The announcement of Chandrasekaran's appointment was made
well ahead of the February 24 deadline for selecting a new Chairman.

A five-member panel comprising Ratan Tata, TVS Group head
Venu Srinivasan, Amit Chandra of Bain Capital, former diplomat Ronen Sen and
Lord Kumar Bhattacharya, was constituted in October to shortlist candidates for
the position.

N Chandrasekaran has been the CEO and Managing Director of
Tata Consultancy Services since 2009. Since October 2016, he has also served on
the board of Tata Sons.

His appointment as Tata Sons Chairman comes at a time when
the company is fighting a legal battle at the National Company Law Tribunal
(NCLT) against Cyrus Mistry, who has challenged his ouster.

Two investment firms owned by the Mistry family filed a
contempt application at NCLT against Tata Sons' move to remove him as director,
and sought an order to restrain the company from going ahead with the EGM
called on February 6 to remove him.

Mistry has alleged that Tata and other trustees of the Tata
Trusts an ran alternate power centre during his tenure.

The Pinaka Rocket Mark-II, which evolved from Pinaka Mark-I,
is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit and has been
transformed to a Guided Pinaka.

The test firing was conducted from Launch Complex-III of
ITR.

The conversion considerably enhanced the range and accuracy
of Pinaka.

The radars, electro-optical and telemetry systems at
Chandipur tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight-path.

The Guided Pinaka is developed jointly by ARDE Pune, RCI
Hyderabad and DRDL Hyderabad. ITR Chandipur provided the range and launch
support.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has congratulated the
DRDO, industry and the Armed Forces for the successful flight-test.

What is Pinaka ?

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and
developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the
Indian Army.

The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 65 km
for Mark-II.

It can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds.

The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility.

Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was
successful in neutralising enemy positions on the mountain tops.

It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large
numbers.

Pinaka is a complete MBRL system, each Pinaka battery
consists of : six launcher vehicles.

Each launcher vehicle with 12 rockets; six
loader-replenishment vehicles; three replenishment vehicles; two Command Post
vehicle (one stand by) with a Fire Control computer, and the DIGICORA MET
radar.

A battery of six launchers can neutralise an area of 1,000 m
× 800 m.

This is made possible with a fire control computer.

The launcher can operate in the following modes:

1.Autonomous mode

2.Stand-alone mode

3. Remote mode

4. Manual mode

The Pinaka MBRL is stated to be cheaper than other systems.

It costs Rs. 2.3 crore per system compared to the M270 which
costs Rs. 19.5 crore.

Parthiv Patel scored the most significant century of his
First-Class career.

He scored 143 runs
for Gujarat to bulldoze defending champions Mumbai by five wickets for their
maiden Ranji Trophy title.

Gujarat team was guided by their oldest player, whose
captain's knock off 196 balls will be remembered for a long time as it also
ensured the highest fourth innings chase in a Ranji Trophy final, chasing a
tricky target of 312.

It was the second time that Gujarat had made the final of
the prestigious domestic tournament and first in 66 years.

Gujarat have won the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy last season
and T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the preceding year.

It was the 41-time champions, who have the pedigree but on
the other hand, Gujarat had two international players in Patel and R P Singh,
whose experience proved invaluable for the team throughout the tournament.

It was only the second time in 26 years that Mumbai have
lost a final.

Overall this is the fifth time that Mumbai have lost a Ranji
Trophy summit clash in their 46 appearances.

The last time it was Kapil Dev's Haryana which beat Sanjay
Manjrekar's Mumbai by two runs - a match remembered for a hobbling Dilip
Vengsarkar's 139.

India’s largest stock market holder National Stock Exchange (NSE)
has introduced an online facility for the investment and subscription of
exchange traded fund on its e-IPO platform.

It would conduct a mock session for new ‘e- ETF’ on e-IPO
platform on January 13 and January 16-17 in order to familiarise with the new
facility.

The main objective is to facilitate acceptance of
subscriptions for Further Fund Offer of CPSE ETF.

An online facility for the investment and subscription of
ETF shall be available to trading members of capital market segment with valid
ARN on existing web based e-IPO platform.

The move comes after NSE received approval from SEBI to
extend its stock exchange mechanism currently being used for accepting
subscriptions for Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) to Further Fund Offer (FFO) of
CPSE ETF.

The issue size of Further Fund Offer will open on January 17
and close on January 20, is Rs 4,500 crore with a greenshoe option of Rs 1,500
crore.

The FFO is open for all categories of investors including
anchor, retail, retirement funds, QIBs, non-institutional investors and Foreign
Portfolio Investors (FPIs).

An upfront discount of 5 per cent is being offered to all
categories of investors.

The government had launched its first CPSE ETF in March
2014, taking the ETF route to disinvestment for the first time.

It had raised Rs
3,000 crore through the ETF.

Supreme Court suggest Govt. to set up body to look into complaints against channels - 15 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Union government set up a statutory mechanism to decide
people's grievances against programmes broadcast on the visual medium.

The statutory mechanism is headed by a Chief Justice J S
Khehar.

SC Justice D Y Chandrachud is also included in the bench.

The authority have framed the rules under the Cable TV
Network (Regulation) Act.

It has suggested by country’s apex court Supreme Court to give rapid proliferation of TV channels.

It will be well advised to frame similar rules so as to
formalise the complaint redressal mechanism providing for limitation for filing
complaint before an authority, which shall adjudicate, the appellate authority
and the final determination on the complaint.

This order was passed on a petition filed by NGO 'Common
Cause' through advocates Kamini Jaiswal and Prashant Bhushan .

They complained that though there were more than 800 TV
channels and 250 radio stations in the country, the government had not put in
place an independent regulatory body to monitor programme content.

Jaiswal and Bhushan stressed that the government should not
be given control of the regulatory mechanism as the ruling dispensation would
use it to throttle those critical of it, in gross violation of freedom of
speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution.

The bench clarified that when it suggested a regulatory
mechanism, it meant a complaint redressal system to address grievances of
citizens relating to social issues like gender justice etc.

The bench decided to leave it to the Centre to set up a
complaint redressal mechanism and disposed of the petition.

The three-day Vibrant Gujarat Summit has created history i.e.
more than 25,000 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were inked.

As many as 25,578
MoUs were signed by various departments and entities of the government with
private investors and corporates.

Out of these, 18,533 are in the small and medium enterprises
sector.

The major agreements was with French aircraft maker Airbus, intends
to set up a manufacturing facility in the State.

The Airbus officials visited the proposed site in Dholera
SIR and discussed the project details with Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

Most MoUs signed at the summit are for expansion of existing
projects in the State.

Central government entities like the Indian Railways,
nationalised banks and Public Sector Undertakings have signed MoUs for
expansion of their existing projects or providing credit to the industries in
Gujarat.

The Indian Railways has signed an MoU pledging investment of
Rs. 67,000 crore for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, which was
announced in the railway budget.

Multilateral lending agency World Bank and India signed a
financing agreement for IDA credit of USD 48 million (equivalent) for the
'Nagaland Health Project'.

The official name of World Bank is known as International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

The objectives of the project are to improve health services
and increase their utilization by communities in targeted locations in Nagaland.

Communities in targeted locations will benefit from project
activities at the community and health facility levels while the population of
the state as a whole will benefit from improvements in higher-level facilities
as well as system-wide investments.

According to the statement, the project will directly
benefit about 6,00,000 people.

It will support and complement existing systems and
mechanisms involving communities under the National Health Mission.

The closing date of Nagaland health Project is March 31,
2023.

The agreement was signed by Economic Affairs Joint Secretary
Raj Kumar and World Bank (India) Acting Country Director Genevieve Connors.

India ranks 78th in in world 'Passport Index: WOS Report - 16 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to the 'World Openness Score' (WOS), India stands
at 78th position with a visa-free score of 46.

India is ahead of China and Pakistan in 'Passport Index'.

Indian passport has been ranked a lowly 78 in a global
ranking of the world's most powerful passports.

German passport world's strongest and ranked number one position.

Germany stands at the top with a visa-free score of 157
while Singapore overtakes South Korea and becomes the highest ranked Asian
passport with a visa-free score of 156.

India stands at 78th position with a visa-free score of 46,
ahead of China and Pakistan which are ranked 58th and 94th on the list
respectively.

Afghanistan's is the least powerful passport with a visa-free
score of just 23.

The latest edition of the world's most popular Arton
Capital's global ranking 'Passport Index' is based on cross-border access of
national passports.

The world's most popular online interactive tool which
collects, displays and ranks the passports globally assigns a "visa-free
score" according to the number of countries a passport holder can visit
visa-free or with visa on arrival.

The 'World Openness
Score' (WOS) tracks the progression of freedom of mobility across the globe.
The WOS in 2016 was 17,925.

In the first month of
2017, the score has already increased to 17,948.

In recent years, citizenship by investment has become a $2
billion industry, with over 20,000 investors seeking a second residency or
citizenship around the globe every year.

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) set to launch Rs. 400-crore start-up fund - 17 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
decided to set up an innovation fund for its development.

The innovation fund, worth Rs.400-500 crore, to invest in
early stage start ups and prod innovation.

The proposal has been cleared in-principle by the Prime
Minister.

CSIR is a 75-year-old
organisation of India.

It is India’s largest patentee and publisher of research
papers.

Now, it is also grappling with a crisis of trying to
generate more revenues from its portfolio of inventions as well encourage its
staff scientists to become entrepreneurs and start companies of their own.

The availability of money for CSIR scientists to spin off
companies was rarely a problem but issues on how CSIR ought to be fairly
compensated and the optimal use of its resources, such as students, lab
facilities, were still a work in progress.

CSIR will have professionals from outside to manage the
funds.

Plans of an innovation fund come even as CSIR has been
asked, last year, to aim to self-generate half of its budget.

The organisation has also identified a suite of technologies
that can be brought to market relatively quickly.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the second
edition of the Raisina Dialogue.

It is India`s flagship geo-political conference organised
annually by the Observer Research Foundation(ORF) in association with the
Ministry of External Affairs.

The theme of the three-day dialogue this year is, "The
New Normal: Multilateralism with Multi Polarity.

The dialogue will feature inaugural panel with Minister of
State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, Foreign Minister of Nepal Prakash Sharan
Mahat, former president of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, former prime minister of
Australia Kevin Rudd, International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister of
Bangladesh Gowher Rizvi.

Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General to sent a
video message before the inaugural panel.

More than 250 participants from 65 countries are taking part
in this year`s three-day Dialogue.

The first edition was attended by 120 participants from 40
countries.

IRCTC to launch first pilgrim train for north east - 17 Jan 17

Highlights:

IRCTC will launch its first pilgrim train for the north east
region next month which will take passengers to destinations like Jagannath and
Konark temples.

This will be a six nights and seven days package for a total
amount of Rs 6,161.

Originating from Guwahati, the train will be launched on
February 17 and cover pilgrimage sites in West Bengal and Odisha.

These sites include Gangasagar, Sri Swamy Narayan Temple,
Kalighat and Birla Temple in West Bengal as well as Sri Jagannath Temple,
Konark Temple and Lingaraj Temple in Odisha.

Indian Railways' New 'Luxury' Chair Cars With Aircraft-Like
Features

The package includes travel in sleeper class, all meals in
the tour, non–ac tourist buses for local sightseeing, accommodation in
dormitories/dharamshalas among others.

The inaugural run of the tourist train will set pace to the
promotion of north eastern region which is rich in cultural heritage and
biodiversity.

The ministry said this was in line with the “PM’s focus on
removing NE isolation through pro-active Act East Policy”.

This package is part of IRCTC’s pilgrim tourist scheme which
connects various pilgrim destinations as part of its different packages.

Tourists who intend to avail the services may book the
tickets online from www.irctctourism.com or through registered e-ticket agents
or from any office of IRCTC.

Union government targets 300 MT steel production by 2030 - 17 Jan 17

Highlights:

The central government expects to enhance India’s steel
production capacity to 300 million tonnes (mt) by 2030-31 from around 125 mt
now.

It has projected with
an investment of Rs.10 lakh crore.

The draft New Steel Policy (NSP), admits that capital
mobilization will be a challenging task given the enormity of required fund and
the current industry situation.

The proposed NSP 2017 has been put out on the steel ministry’s
website for public comments.

It also intends to domestically meet entire demand of high
grade automotive steel, electrical steel, special steels and alloys for strategic
applications by 2030-31 and be a net exporter of the alloy by 2025-26.
Presently, these products constitute the bulk of the imports that stood at 11.7
mt last fiscal.

The proposed policy aims to enhance India’s per capita steel
consumption to 160 kg by 2030-31 from around 61 kg now.

Over the past two
decades, Indian steel industry has developed capabilities of producing a wide
range of sophisticated steel at par with global best practices addressing
diverse needs of the end user industries.

However,India still needs to make a special effort to
domestically produce steel for high-end applications, electrical steel (CRGO),
special steel and alloys for power equipment, aerospace, defence and nuclear
applications.

The policy states that the steel industry will have to
strongly depend on the growth of domestic consumption as the global economic prospect
weakens in the face of idle steel capacity globally.

The terms of reference of the committee are identifying
global best practices for implementing an economy primarily based on digital
payment and examine the possibility of adoption of these global standards in
the Indian context.

The panel was also asked to outline measures for rapid
expansion and adoption of the system of digital payments like cards (Debit,
Credit and pre-paid), Digital-wallets/ e-wallets, internet banking, Unified
Payments Interface (UPI), banking apps, etc and shall broadly indicate the
roadmap to be implemented in one year.

The high-level group was also asked to identify and address
bottlenecks and indicate solutions pertaining to adoption of the steps required
to move towards a digital payments economy.

According to WEF report, India has been ranked 60th among 79
developing economies in the inclusive development index in the world.

It is below from its neighbouring China and Pakistan, in the
inclusive development index.

WEF’s ‘Inclusive Growth and Development Report 2017’,
released recently like every year.

Most countries are missing important opportunities to raise
economic growth and reduce inequality at the same time because the growth model
and measurement tools that have guided policymakers for decades require
significant readjustment.

Small country like Lithuania tops the list of 79 developing
economies.

Two BRIC nations, Russia and Brazil, are at 13th and 30th
places, respectively.

India, with a score of only 3.38, ranks 60th among the 79
developing economies on the IDI, despite the fact that its growth in GDP per
capita is among the top 10 and labour productivity growth has been strong.

However, it noted that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is
high, raising some questions about the sustainability of government spending.

Among the advanced economies, Norway is at the top, followed
by Luxembourg (2nd), Switzerland (3th), Iceland (4th) and Denmark (5th).

Other nations in the top ten advanced economies are Sweden
(6th), Netherlands (7th), Australia (8th), New Zealand (9th) and Austria
(10th).

What is IDI ?

The Inclusive Development Index (IDI) is based on 12
performance indicators.

In order to provide a more complete measure of economic
development than GDP growth alone, the index has three pillars - Growth and
Development, Inclusion and Intergenerational Equity, and Sustainability.

IDI scores are based on a scale of 1-7. Advanced and
developing economy IDI scores are not strictly comparable due to different
definitions of poverty.

The achievements of the bench was to provide an
institutionalised mechanism for rehabilitation of victims of acid attacks and
forcing the Centre and states to draw up a strict regime for over the counter
sale of the corrosive substance.

It also forced states to make better utilisation of the Rs
20,000 crore collected through 2% cess on cost of construction from builders to
be used for welfare measures for workers and their children's education.

The Centre has now framed a scheme for registration of all
construction workers under the Employees Provident Fund office.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh announced
Dharamsala town in Kangra district will be second capital of Himachal Pradesh.

The town is 250 km from the state capital Shimla.

It has a significance and history of its own and fully
deserved to be the second capital of the state.

Dharamsala held a special importance and value to the lower
areas of the state comprising Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur and Una districts.

The people of these areas would now be benefitted of this
special status and they would not have to travel to longer distance to Shimla
for their work.

Dharamsala was already marked prominently not only in the
map of India but of the world due to its significance owing to many reasons,
including the Dalai Lama's abode.

Prominent personalities across the world visited this hilly
town throughout the year.

The Chief Minister said a full-fledged winter session of the
state assembly was held for the first time outside Shimla in December 2005.

A complete Vidhan Sabha building exists in Dharamsala for
which the foundation was laid in his last tenure in 2006.

This town has already been a witness of holding 12 winter
sessions of the assembly so for.

Virbhadra Singh introduced the practice of annual winter
sojourn way back in 1994 to hear the people and see for himself the progress of
development works being carried out in the area.

Kangra is the largest district in the state with 15 of 68
assembly seats.

Central Govt. sets up a negotiation committee on river Mahanadi and its tributaries - 19 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Union Government has constituted a negotiation committee
to assess availability and utilisation of waters of Mahanadi and its
tributaries.

The main aim is to resolve disputes over sharing of river
waters among five states including Odisha.

It has asked the committee to submit its report within three
months.

The committee is constituted by the Union water resources
ministry.

It will also examine existing water sharing agreements on
river Mahanadi and will consider claims of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Jharkhand regarding availability and utilisation of
waters of these rivers.

The committee has been set up with reference to complaint of
state of Odisha under section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Dispute (ISRWD)
Act, 1956 regarding utilisation of waters of Mahandi basin.

The committee will be chaired by member (water planning and
projects) of the Central Water Commission (CWC).

It will have 11 other members comprising representatives
from the state governments of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Jharkhand.

Officials from Union ministries of agriculture, environment,
water resources and earth sciences (India Meteorological Department) will also
be members of the committee.

The members of the committee will visit all the five states
and do consultations with experts for making its report.

Delhi Police Chief Alok Verma has been appointed as the director
of Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) for a two-year term.

A three-member committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
had met earlier this week to choose the next chief of the CBI.

At the meeting, Mr Verma had got two of the three votes-
that of PM Modi and Chief Justice of India JS Khehar.

The selection comes in the wake of a huge controversy over
the appointment of Gujarat officer RK Asthana as the acting chief of the agency
in December.

It was challenged in court by lawyer-activist Prashant
Bhushan.

The Congress, whose leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge
was the third member of the committee, had supported RK Dutta - a former CBI officer
- for the post.

Mr. Kharge claimed
that a person who has worked with the CBI should be made Director.

He was apparently referring to R K Dutta, who has served as
CBI Additional Director.

Verma, however, has served in the Vigilance Bureau, which
technically qualifies him for the post.

Mr Dutta had been given charge of a financial terrorism unit
in the Home Ministry.

Mr Verma is a 1979 batch IPS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal
Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre, is known to maintain a low
profile.

He had replaced BS Bassi as the police chief in February
2016, after serving as the Director General of Delhi's Tihar jail.

Among the other contenders for the CBI chief’s post were
ITBP Director General Krishna Choudhary and Maharashtra DGP S C Mathur.

The post of CBI Director has been lying vacant for over a
month following Anil Sinha’s retirement on December 2, after which the
government appointed Gujarat-cadre Rakesh Asthana as the interim CBI chief.

Indian Navy aims to induct two new diesel-electric submarines be 2018 - 20 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Indian Navy aims to induct two new diesel-electric
submarines within this year, in a much-needed boost to its depleting underwater
combat arm after a long gap of over 17 years.

The first, INS Kalvari is set for commissioning in May-June
after finishing its trials.

The force hopes the second one INS Khanderi will also be
ready by year-end.

The two new submarines of the six French-origin Scorpenes
being built at Mazagon Docks, at a cost of Rs 23,652 crore under Project-75.

It will certainly add muscle to the Navy, which is grappling
with just 13 ageing conventional submarines.

India also has two nuclear-powered submarines, INS Arihant
and INS Chakra, of which the latter does not have nuclear-tipped ballistic
missiles because it has been acquired on lease from Russia.

China has 56 submarines, with eight of them being nuclear
ones, which are increasingly making forays into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Pakistan has five old diesel-electric submarines but has
ordered eight new-generation ones from China.

The Scorpene project project has faced huge time and cost
overruns.

The first Scorpene INS Kalvari was to be ready by 2012, with
the other five coming by 2017.

Now, with the third submarine INS Vela to be
"launched" later this year.

All the six will be inducted by 2020.

The long-planned Rs 1,200 crore acquisition of "Black
Shark" torpedoes for the Scorpene submarines was to take place from
Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica's subsidiary Whitehead Alenia Sistemi
Subacquel, but the procurement got derailed after the VVIP helicopter kickbacks
scandal.

INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi certainly have their
tube-launched SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles, will have to be inducted without
their planned torpedoes as of now.

Concurrently, the process is in progress to select the
heavy-weight torpedoes for the Scorpene submarines.

The French F-21 and German SeaHake torpedoes are the main
contenders in the fray, while the Black Shark torpedoes are also theoretically
in contention because the government is yet to actually scrap or withdraw the
original tender.

The Navy is all gung-ho about the Scorpenes, which are
depicted in the force's Republic Day tableau along with the indigenously-built
Kolkata-class destroyers.

The Scorpenes are the most lethal conventional submarines in
the world...they will provide us with the combat edge that is required in the
region.

Of the 13 ageing conventional submarines with the Navy, nine
are of Russian-origin called Sindhughosh-class and four German or
Shishumar-class.

Incidentally, it was the Vajpayee-led NDA government that in
July 1999 had approved a 30-year submarine building plan for induction of 24
submarines in a phased manner.

Eighteen years later, not even one submarine has been
commissioned till now.

Narendra Modi become most followed leader of state on social media in the world - 20 Jan 17

Highlights:

As Obama steps down, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
become the most followed leader of state on social media platforms including
Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Google+.

US President Barack Obama has leaved office as Donald Trump prepares to take oath as the 45th President of the United States.

PM Modi had joined Twitter in the year 2009.

He has over 26.5 million followers on the micro -blogging
site while on Facebook, the numbers reach over 39.2 million.

Obama have 80. 7 million followers and he is currently the
only leader of state with more followers than PM Modi.

Even Trump, who is known for making headlines because of his
tweets, has less followers than PM Modi (20.5 million).

PM Modi’s follower base on various social media
platforms:

Twitter: 26.5 million

Facebook: 39.2
million

Google+: 3.2 million

LinkedIn: 1.99 million

Instagram: 5.8 million

YouTube: 5.91 lakh

During the 2014 parliamentary elections, PM Modi and the BJP
had used social media, especially Twitter and Facebook, effectively to reach
out to potential voters.

After voted to power, many of the ministers in the union
cabinet including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Suresh Prabhu have used
social media to resolve issues and make statements.

Modi government has stressed on improving online infrastructure
and increasing internet penetration through the ‘Digital India’ programme.

During his last visit to the US, PM Modi had met several
tech CEOs including Google head Sundar Pichai and Facebook founder Mark
Zuckerberg.

Therefore, the bull taming sport will be held at Alaganallur
in Madurai and other parts of the state.

The Chief Minister will inaugurate the rural sport jallikattu
at Alanganallu.

The youths, students and the general public to make the
jallikattu events across Tamil Nadu a grand success by participating in large
numbers.

The state-wide protests by thousands of protesters reached
at the fifth day.

The assent of President Pranab Mukherjee to amend the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 by Tamil Nadu was received last
night.

The assent for the ordinance (amending the PCA Act) has been
obtained from Govenor.

A draft Bill to replace the ordinance and amend the PCA Act
paving the way for holding jallikattu without any hindrance will be introduced
and adopted in the Tamil Nadu Assembly's session which begins on January 23.

What is Jallikattu?

Jallikaatu is a rural sports for bull taming event typically
practiced in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations on Mattu Pongal day,
third day of the four-day Pongal festival.

The term 'jallikattu' is derived from the tamil words
'jalli' and 'kattu'.

Jalli refers to gold or silver coins. Kattu means 'tied'.

Therefore, combined together it refers to coins being tied
to the bulls' horns, which is considered the prize for whoever tames the bull.

The bull that wins is used to service numerous cows
preserving the native breed.

It is renowned as an ancient 'sport', believed to have been
practised some 2500 years ago.

It is controversial because the sport often results in major
injuries and even deaths.

What is cause of
sudden outrage?

Last year, the Environment Ministry amended its earlier
notification, initially issued by UPA in 2011, and declared that the sport
could carry on irrespective of the imposed ban.

This was seen in direct contravention with the Supreme
Court's order and was challenged by organisations such as People for The
Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Consequently, a stay order was issued by the court.

A research conducted by PETA's investigators found that the
bulls were being disoriented, deliberately.

The bulls' tails were allegedly bitten and twisted; stabbed,
punched and dragged on the ground. PETA's campign was vocally supported by
celebrities like John Abraham and Hema Malini, who played an integral role in
standing for the ban against Jallikattu.

Why is PETA keen on
banning Jallikattu?

In January 2016, the Central Government lifted the ban on
request of Tamil Nadu Government.

This notification was challenged by PETA and Other such
welfare Organizations in the Supreme Court.

PETA insists that 'cruelty' is not limited to slaughter but
includes unnecessary suffering and torture induced on animals for the purpose
of human entertainment.

Therefore, PETA advocates that it is the fundamental duty of
citizens of India to have compassion for all living creatures and to protect
wildlife.

Cause of Tamilians
protesting the ban on Jallikattu:

Tamilians
consider it symbolic of Tamilian pride as it is an ancient tradition that has
been carried on for years. Jallikattu witnesses thousands of participants,
attempting to tame the bulls by latching to their horns or humps.

Its innumerable references could be found in Dravidian
Literature and the indigenous population of Tamilnadu has held this event for years.

The Jallikattu protests are fuelled by the view that the ban
impinges on the cultural identity of the populace.

What do the
protestors want ?

The protesters, mostly young students and professionals, say
their fight is for their culture and Tamil pride and reject the allegation that
Jallikattu is cruel to the bulls.

They have also demanded that animal rights organisation
PETA, which has lobbied against Jallikatu, be banished from the state.

The protesters say the law on cruelty to animals must be
amended to include Jallikattu bulls on a list of trained animals used in the
military or for educational and scientific purposes.

The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 1,376 crore for complete
upgradation and improvement of the power system network in Tripura.

In the first phase, Rs 461 crore would be spent.

Large number of 132 KV and 33 KV substations will be
constructed and upgraded under the project,

The new 132 KV substations would be constructed at Belonia,
Bagafa, Sabroom and Satchand in South Tripura district, Rabindranagar,
Gokulnagar in Sipahijala district, Mohanpur in West district, Amarpur in Gomati
district and Manu in Dhalai district.

At least 43 people were killed and over 60 injured as the
engine and nine coaches of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express jumped the
tracks in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district overnight with the railways
suspecting sabotage behind the derailment,

It is the third Rail accident in as many months.

The East Coast Railway put the death toll at 36 with the
casualties expected to rise as many bodies were feared trapped in the mangled
coaches of the train which derailed around 11 PM last night when it was on its
way to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur.

The engine and nine coaches of the train went off the track
near Kuneru station.

Two AC coaches, four Sleeper coaches, two General
Compartments and the guard-cum-passenger coach besides the locomotive of the
train derailed.

While Railways suspect that tampering of the track near
Kuneru station led to the derailment in the Naxal-prone zone, Odisha Police
ruled out involvement of Maoists in the mishap.

According to railways, prima facie there was rail fracture
which caused the derailment.

But it has to be ascertained through whether the fracture
was due to sabotage or because of negligence and lack of maintenance.

There are indications of foul play as a goods train passed
the same track just two hours before the mishap.

The driver applied emergency brake after feeling a big jerk
and heard a loud sound. The area is Naxal prone and the incident happened just
ahead of Republic Day.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the
accident site to probe the sabotage angle.

It is the second ship that has been commissioned to the PLA
Navy since the start of 2017, following the CNS Kaiyangxing, a Type-815A class
electronic reconnaissance ship, which now belongs to the North Sea Fleet.

Russia has the world’s largest corvette group that consists
of about 80 vessels.

Most of them were built in the 1980s and 1990s and cannot
compete with the Type-056 in terms of technology and equipment.

China’s fleet is now the biggest force of modern corvettes
of all navies.

PLAN has expanded its fleet rapidly in the past ten years
taking delivery of about 100 advanced ships and submarines as well as a large
number of new aircraft.

It commissioned around 20 new ships in 2015 as well as last
year and is believed to have deployed several new-generation nuclear submarines
during this period.

The Navy now has a carrier battle group headed by its first
aircraft carrier Liaoning, which just completed a long-distance, live-fire
drill in the Western Pacific Ocean and South China Sea.

A second aircraft carrier is being built with plans for the
third.

The Navy’s aviation force has carried out several
long-range, combat-ready drills as China appears bracing itself for renewed
tensions in the South China Sea under Donald Trump Presidency.

The U.S. has to wage a war with China if America blocks it
from accessing the artificial islands it has built in the contested South China
Sea.

China’s claims over almost all of the SCS is contested by
Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The Centre would extensively utilise geo-spatial technology
in realising its vision to build 100 smart cities across the country.

This was declared by Union Urban Development Minister M
Venkaiah Naidu,recently.

Cities in the past were built on riverbanks.

They are now built along highways. But in the future, they
will be built based on availability of optical fibre networks and
next-generation infrastructure.

Government's vision is to build 100 smart cities across the
country.

Geospatial Science & Technology (GS&T) is the means
to realise this vision.

Geo-spatial technology (GST) makes use of satellite
navigation systems and computer databases called the Geographical Information
System (GIS) to create, capture, store and retrieve geographic and spatial
information of any place.

GST enables efficient, effective, relevant and integrated
planning through the use of real time data and data analytics.

A common thread running between the "path-breaking
schemes" initiated by the NDA Government in the urban development sphere,
including Smart City Programme, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban), Pradhan Mantri
Awas Yojana (Urban), AMRUT and HRIDAY, is the extensive use of ICT and
geo-spatial information systems

Later, the apex court granted four weeks time for appointing
the members of the human rights body after the Centre requested for some more
time.

The apex court had on December 2 last year expressed
displeasure over inordinate delay in filling up vacant positions in the NHRC.

It also included that of the Director General of
investigation and a member while directing the Centre to enumerate reasons for
the delay.

It had asked the Centre to make these appointments as soon
as possible.

Right from March 2014, there has been vacancy in the
commission.

Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, NHRC is
supposed to comprise a chairperson, who has been a Chief Justice of India, one
member who is or has been a judge of the Supreme Court, one member who is, or
has been, the chief justice of a high court and two members from amongst
persons having knowledge of, or practical experience in matters relating to
human rights.

India and UAE to sign strategic partnership agreement - 23 Jan 17

Highlights:

India and the UAE to sign an agreement sealing a
"comprehensive strategic partnership" between the two countries when
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visits this week as chief guest of the
Republic Day parade.

It will be one of 10
agreements that we will be signing.

This dialogue will also serve as an oversight mechanism for
the relationship.

A military contingent from the UAE will march in the
Republic Day parade.

Sheikh Mohammed is expected to arrive on January 24 and hold
official talks the next day and attend the parade on January 26.

He will be coming with a large delegation including minister
of economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, who will also visit Andhra Pradesh to
scout for economic opportunities.

Private sector ties were always strong but governments were
behind the curve. Now governments are in the driving seat, and that is
important.

In February, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one
of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

It will send four of its
executive directors to India to identify investment opportunities, particularly
in the infrastructure sector.

The UAE government had decided several years ago that India
should be a focus of their diplomacy.

But it needed India to take the lead in pushing the
bilateral relationship to a different level.

The Union Government has constituted a committee (Working
Group) to frame uniform rules for the states to avoid delay in proper
implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 across the
country.

The Committee will be headed by Secretary from Department of
Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD).

It will submit its
report within three months.

It will comprise of representatives from the Union Ministry
of Health, DoPT, Labour, Legislative Department and representatives from NGOs
as members.

It will also have Principal Secretary/Secretary, Social
Welfare Department from Karnataka, Gujarat, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh.

Suggest model draft rules for the states in order to have a
uniform rules across the country and also to avoid delay in finalization of
rules by any state.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 The Act was
notified in December 2016, after it received assent of President.

It comprehensively covers a whole spectrum of problems from
physical disabilities to mental illness and multiple disabilities under it. It
raises number of disabilities from 7 to 21.

It also raises reservation in government jobs for persons
with benchmark disabilities from present 3% to 4% and in higher education from
3% to 5%.

The Act aims to bring Indian laws in line with the United
Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which India
became a signatory in 2007. Once it comes into effect, every child with
benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years will have the
right to free education.

Vehicles Insurance : More than 60% of vehicles on Indian roads don’t have insurance - 24 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to General Insurance Council (GIC), about 60% of the vehicle users in Indian roads are
uninsured.

Most of vehicles are motorcycles and scooters in India.

The General Insurance Council
(GIC) is country's general insurers.

In 2015-16, India had around 19 crore registered vehicles;
of these, only 8.26 crore were insured.

In 2012-13, out of the total number
of vehicles, including two-wheelers, cars and heavy vehicles, registered in the
country stood at 15 crore, of which only 6.02 crore were insured.

The figures are alarming since India's roads are notorious
for their high accident rate, with 2015 alone recording over 5 lakh road
crashes.

Two-wheelers were involved in 29% of the accidents in 2015,
cars and jeeps in 23%, and buses in 8.3%.

Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar will, for the first
time hear grievances from the field workers of RJD, JD(U) and Congress at a
joint meeting .

CM has convened his first 'Jan Samvad' programme for the
members of three parties at the CM secretariat.

Nitish had announced that he would hold a 'Jan-Samvad'
programme on the 4th Monday of each month to interact with the workers of the
all three parties of the grand alliance.

All members of the state cabinet, including deputy CM
Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, will remain present at the 'Jan Samvad' to hear the
grievances from the parties' district heads.

Besides hearing their problems, CM will also take feedback
on the government's welfare schemes. Each party having 40 to 45 organisational
districts in the state, around 125 district presidents are likely to attend the
first Jan Samvad.

The Jan Samvad programme was being seen as an attempt to
ensure proper coordination among the workers of three parties at the field
level.

Earlier the three constituents of the grand alliance had
decided to hold joint press conference at the state level on every three months
to iron out ideological differences on various issues.

The first such joint press-conference was organised at the
RJD office on August 28 last year which was attended by JD(U) state president
Bashishtha Narayan Singh, Congress state chief Ashok Choudhary and host RJD
state president Ram Chandra Purbey.

The Union Cabinet has given its approval for launching of
Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana 2017 (VPBY 2017).

The scheme will be launched as part of Government’s
commitment for financial inclusion and social security.

The scheme will be implemented through Life Insurance
Corporation of India (LIC) during the current financial year - 2016-17.

It will be open for subscription for a period of one year
from the date of launch.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide social security
during old age and protect elderly persons aged 60 years and above against
future fall in their interest income due to uncertain market conditions.

It will provide an assured pension based on a guaranteed
rate of return of 8% per annum for ten years, with an option to opt for pension
on a monthly, quarterly, half yearly and annual basis.

The Union Government will bear the differential return.

The difference between the return generated by LIC and the
assured return of 8% per annum as subsidy on an annual basis.

India is hosting Abu Dhabi’s crown prince Mohamed bin Zayed
Al Nahyan as a special guest for the Republic Day celebrations.

Earlier, in August 2015, UAE had agreed to increase its investments
in India to USD 75 billion (about Rs 5 lakh crore) including through a
dedicated infrastructure fund.

The two countries had also agreed to raise bilateral trade
by 60 % by 2020.

Both countries have signed a number of agreements/MOUs which
also show that Abu Dhabi means business in India.

Agreements:

1.Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership:

This is a general framework agreement which highlights the
areas of bilateral cooperation identified under the comprehensive strategic
partnership as agreed upon in the high-level joint statements issued in the
August 2015 and February 2016.

2. MoU between Ministry of Defence, India and Ministry of
Defence, UAE on cooperation in the field of defence industry.

This MoU aims to establish cooperation in the identified
fields of defence manufacturing and technology, including through studies,
research, development, innovation and cooperation between public and private
sector institutions of the two countries.

The two sides will cooperate in areas
of armaments, defence industries and transfer of technology.

4.MOU between Directorate General of Shipping and UAE on Mutual Recognition of
Certificates of Competency as per the provisions of the Standards of Training.

This MoU aims to deepen the maritime economic activities in
general by establishing a framework for Mutual Recognition of Certificates of
Competency of marine officers, engineers and crews.

5. MoU between Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
India and Federal Transport Authority, Land and Maritime, UAE on Bilateral
Cooperation in road, transport and highways sector.

This MoU aims to establish cooperation in the sectors of
highways and road transport through sharing of technologies, systems and best
practices in freight logistics, warehousing and value added services.

6. MOU on cooperation in prevention and combating of human
trafficking.

This MoU aims to enhance bilateral cooperation on the issue
of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking,
especially of women and children expeditiously.

7. MoU for cooperation in the field of Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) and innovation between Ministry of Economy, United Arab
Emirates and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoSMSME), India

This MoU aims at promoting cooperation in MSMEs Sectors,
including in joint projects, R & D and related activities.

8. MoU between Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare,
India and Ministry of Climate Change & Environment, UAE in agriculture and
Allied sectors

This MoU aims to develop a framework for cooperation in
various agricultural fields of mutual interest, including through enhancement
of cooperation in food processing and transfer of technology in cultivation
methods.

9. MOU on mutual exemption of entry visa requirements to the
holders of diplomatic, special and official passports

The agreement allows holders of diplomatic, special and
official passports visa-free travel between the two countries.

This MoU aims to strengthen ties between Prasar Bharati and
Emirates News Agency (WAM), UAE through cooperation in the field of
broadcasting, mutual exchange of programmes, news and best practices.

11. MoU between Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India and
Ministry of Economy, UAE on trade remedial measures to promote cooperation in
areas of mutual interest

This MoU aims to enhance cooperation in the field of
anti-dumping and allied duties through exchange of information,
capacity-building, seminars and trainings in mutually identified areas related
to trade remedial measures.

12. Agreement on Oil Storage And Management between Indian
Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company

This agreement aims to establish a framework for the storage
of crude oil by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in India and to further
strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries in the field of
energy.

13. MOU between National Productivity Council and Al Etihad
Energy Services Co. LLC

This MOU is on Cooperation in Energy Efficiency Services.

14. MOU between National Security Council Secretariat, India
and National Electronic Security Authority, UAE

The e-Committee set up in 2004 is a body constituted by the
Government under the Supreme Court for policy formation on and implementation
of Information and Communication Technology in the courts across the Country.

Chief Justice J S Khehar, who is the patron in-chief of the
panel, reinstated Justice Lokur as judge in-charge of the committee on January
20, as per a Supreme Court notification.

Justice Lokur is the
fifth senior most judge in apex court in the hierarchy.

He was dropped from the e-panel on November 9, 2016 by
Justice Thakur and substituted by former Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court
Sunil Ambwani.

No reason was cited for taking out Justice Lokur from
heading the panel then.

Besides Justice Lokur, other members of the panel are
Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice D Y Chandrachud and two others.

The invitee members include Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi,
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, Justice B D Ahmed of Delhi High Court among
others.

In 2012, when Justice S H Kapadia was Chief Justice of
India, Justice Lokur was made as judge in-charge of the panel for the first
time.

The panel under Justice Lokur had successfully launched
National Judicial Data Grid for district courts across the country and is now
working on a similar grid for High Courts.

The grid gives data of pendency of cases (both civil and
criminal) of district courts in every state.

It gives details of cases pending over 10 years and five
years, besides cases filed by senior citizens, women and other related data.

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) introduces next version for BHIM App - 25 Jan 17

Highlights:

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced
next version (ie ver 1.2) for the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) App and the
same is available now on Google Play Store.

The new BHIM version offers enhanced security features and
superior user experience.

The new version is a major enhancement and offers several
added features.

First, it added 7 more languages (ie other than English
& Hindi available now) viz. Odia, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam,
Kannada and Gujarati.

Second, ‘pay to aadhaar number’ concept introduced and now
BHIM users can transfer money to any Aadhaar number linked with beneficiaries’
bank account.

Third, it has introduced ‘spam report’ facility to block
unknown persons from requesting for money.

Ace cicketeer Virat Kohli awarded Padma Shri - 25 Jan 17

Highlights:

Virat Kohli becomes the 31st Indian cricketer to be coveted with
the fourth biggest civilian honour of the country.

He led the team to the No. 1 Test ranking before taking over
the reins from Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the limited-overs captain as well.

In the last one year, Kohli has scored 1215 runs in 12 Tests
at an average of 75.93, including three double centuries.

He led from the front in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs)
as well, with 924 runs from 13 games at an average of 84 and a strike rate of
101.31.

Kohli was also instrumental in India's World Twenty20
campaign where he won the Player of the Tournament award.

The 28-year-old scored 273 runs in the tournament in five
games with a strike rate of 146.77.

As astonishing as his strike rate was, he ended the
tournament with a splendid average of 136.50. Such was his dominance in the
tournament that he decimated the Australian attack in the virtual quarterfinal
in Mohali to take India to the semifinal, where they lost to West Indies.

Kohli becomes the 31st cricketer to win the award with the
last one going to Mithali Raj, the India women ODI captain. Sakshi Malik, Dipa
Karmakar Vikas Gowda, Paralympians Mariyappan Thangavelu and PR Sreejesh are
the other recipients this year.

These awards are India's second, third and fourth highest respectively after Bharat Ratna Award.

The award includes politicians, sports personalities, and
those who have made their mark in fields like art, social work, public affairs,
science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and
education, sports, civil service, etc.

These awards are conferred by the President of India at
ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around
March/April every year.

This year, the President of India has approved conferment of
Padma Awards to 89 persons.

According to the annual index of Transparency International-2016,India, Brazil and China are placed in
the 40th position.

A major international index of corruption and transparency
has placed India on the watch list for its inability to curb mega corruption scandals
and petty bribery.

India’s condition showed growth with inequality.

India’s ongoing poor performance with a score of 40
reiterates the state’s inability to effectively deal with petty corruption and
large-scale corruption scandals.

The impact of corruption on poverty, illiteracy and policy
brutality showed that not only was the economy growing but so was inequality.

India’s current ranking, putting it in the high corruption
zone, has drawn critical observations from transparency campaigners.

According to the People’s Campaign for Right to Information, the
government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not done enough on the issue of
Lokpal and whistleblower protection.

A lot of scams in the previous government were unearthed
with the help of the right to information that the government itself allowed.

But the present government has done nothing to boost the
anti-corruption structure.

The demonetisation process is the latest indicator of the
lack of transparency in the system, where even the Reserve Bank of India is not
able to spell out the exact details of the operation.

Growth with inequality is disastrous on its own. But in the
case of India, such a growth also legitimises corruption.

South Asia had performed poorly,Bangladesh at 27th and Nepal
at 29th positions were slotted in the highly corrupt section.

Pakistan, at 32, also came in the red zone.

Afghanistan ranked 15th was in the “highly corrupt” list
with South Sudan, North Korea and Libya.

The organisation recognised China’s recent anti-corruption
campaign under President Xi Jinping which had been targeting ‘tigers and flies’
and slotted it alongside India.

China’s latest score was an improvement of three points.

India, though it improved two ranks, remained in the same
red-zone of corruption.

“Nirbhaya Fund” for women remains unspent for third year in a row - 26 Jan 17

Highlights:

The government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore towards the
Nirbhaya fund since 2013 in every Budget.

This fund is meant for schemes to ensure the safety and security
of women.

But like every year since 2013, the allocation in 2015-16
remained unspent.

The fund was created by the UPA government in 2013 in the
memory of Nirbhaya, a Delhi paramedic who was assaulted and brutalised in
December 2012 in a moving bus in the national capital.

She later died of her injuries. The fund was launched with
the objective of supporting schemes for the protection of women.

According to the approved Union finance account for 2015-16,
the government had devised two schemes - a Rs 653 crore scheme for "safety
of women on public road transport" under the ministry of road transport and
highways and the Nirbhaya project worth Rs 79.6 crore under the home ministry.

Neither of these schemes could take off, resulting in
complete savings of the proposed allocation.

Many other projects, with allocation made in 2015-16,
remained on the drawing board with 100% savings.

The government had allocated Rs 461 crore for employment and
rehabilitation of manual scavengers.

There was also a special programme devised for development
of road connectivity in Naxal-affected areas, where women and children are
often the worst sufferers, with an allocation of Rs 920 crore.

This again had
complete savings at the end of the year for the road transport ministry's
failure to implement it.

Chief Justice of India J S Khehar has brought back Justice
Madan B Lokur as head of the national E-Committee, which had pioneered infusion
of information technology in judicial work.

In November last year, the then CJI T S Thakur had removed
Justice Lokur as judge-incharge of the E-Committee and had appointed retired
Rajasthan HC Chief Justice Sunil Ambwani as chairman.

The E-Committee was set up in 2004 to provide a guidemap for
use of I-T and administrative reforms in judiciary.

It was also to assist the CJI in formulating a national
policy on computerisation of judiciary.

Justice Ambwani resigned after CJI Khehar made it clear that
he wanted Justice Lokur to head the E-Committee.

This is the second time in less than three weeks of taking
oath as CJI that Justice Khehar has reversed his predecessor's decision.

The other decision of Justice Thakur - to scrap the social
justice bench headed again by Justice Lokur - was reversed by Justice Khehar.

The Justice Lokur-headed bench has since started hearing
social justice related matters.

Justice Lokur was appointed judge-incharge of the
E-Committee on July 26, 2012.

Under his guidance, the E-Committee put in place a National
Judicial Data Grid for district courts across the country.

This provides at a glance, the pendency of cases under
various categories in each district court, thus allowing chief justices of HCs
to issue remedial advice and direction to the district courts.

The E-Committee has completed 97% of the work contemplated.

Under Justice Lokur, the E-Committee had made meaningful
contributions to make courts litigant friendly and lower cost of trial.

The E-Committee has been able to install video conferencing
facilities in 95% of the 830 locations in consultation with HCs.

This would reduce cost of transportation of accused persons
from jail to the court as the trial could continue through video conferencing
link between the court and the jail.

It was estimated to save Rs 100 crore to the government
every year.

The e-Project piloted by Justice Lokur had has ensured that
litigants need not be at the mercy of their lawyers to find out about listing
of their cases in courts apart from video conferencing facilities.

Maharashtra Tops Padma Awards List with Eight Honours - 26 Jan 17

Highlights:

The state Maharashtra has topped the 2016- year's list of
Padma awards announced as part of the Republic Day honours.

The state with a total of eight personalities, including one
posthumous awardee.

There is one Padma Vibhushan, one Padma Bhushan and six
Padma Shri for dignitaries from the state, including two women and one awarded
posthumously.

Maharashtra's elder statesman and Nationalist Congress Party
President Sharad Pawar has been named for Padma Vibhushan.

Padma Vibhushan is India's second highest civilian honour.

Mr Pawar, 76, is a three-time former Chief Minister of
Maharashtra and also served as union minister under the late Prime Minister PV
Narasimha Rao and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Renowned Mumbai gastroenterologist Tehemton Erach Udwadia,
83, considered the father of laporoscopic surgery in India has been named for
India's third highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan.

Six other eminent personalities have been named for the
Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest civilian honour in the President of
India's Republic Day honours list.

They are: Bollywood singer Kailash Kher, whose style is
influenced by Indian folk music and Sufi music, veteran playback singer
Anuradha Paudwal and film journalist and author Bhawana Somaaya, who was noted
for her trilogy on Amitabh Bachchan.

Among the non-entertainment category, Padma Shri has been
announced for celebrity chef and television personality Sanjeev Kapoor, 52, and
spiritual guru Dattatreya Narayan alias Appasaheb Dharmadhikari,70, who is the
founder-president of the Shri Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratisthan, which work among
the poor and downtrodden in the Konkan region.

Renowned social worker and medico SV Mapuskar
who had dedicated his life to rural sanitation and cleanliness has been
conferred the Padma Shri posthumously

V. Shanmuganathan resigns from Meghalaya Governor - 27 Jan 17

Highlights:

In a high controversy issue, Meghalaya Governor V. Shanmuganathan has resigned after a
section of Raj Bhavan employees demanded his removal for sexual harassment
charges.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was waiting for Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and the Home Ministry to take a call.

Nearly 100 Raj Bhavan staff petitioned President Pranab
Mukherjee, the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking
their intervention to remove the Governor and restore the dignity of Raj
Bhavan.

Raj Bhavan employees alleged that he had “seriously
compromised the dignity of the Raj Bhavan and made it a ‘young ladies club’.

Mr. Shanmuganathan was took over as the Governor of
Meghalaya in May 2015.

He also holds the governor
of Arunachal Pradesh additional charge since November last following the
removal of Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.

The campaign, spearheaded by women-led Civil Society Women
Organisation (CSWO) and Thma u Rangli (TUR), was launched following reports of
inappropriate behaviour by the Governor.

A woman job aspirant had also accused the Governor of making
advances when she was appeared for an interview at the Raj Bhavan.

All eight member states of the South Asian Association for
Regional Cooperation are scheduled to gather in Kathmandu on February 1-2 ,2017.

For the first time since the summit was postponed last year
to discuss pressing issues, including cross border terrorism and absence of
pan-South Asia connectivity projects that hamper smooth functioning of the
grouping.

Senior diplomats of India, Pakistan and other six member
nations will discuss the way forward for Saarc.

India wants to discuss the various impediments that have
kept the region from growing to its potential even three decades after the
creation of the grouping.

Nepal is hold the present chairmanship of the SAARC.

Diplomats from the member countries are likely
to discuss ways to end the stalemate over the 19th summit, apart from
scheduling events to be held by the organisation in the coming months.

India will reiterate at the forthcoming meet that while it
remains committed to Saarc, the onus to turn the regional situation conducive
for holding the summit is on Pakistan.

Pakistan has been blocking connectivity initiatives such as
the proposed Saarc Motor Vehicles and Railways Agreements, and refusing to
cooperate on combating cross border terrorism in South Asia.

In absence of SAARC Motor Vehicles Agreement, which was
blocked by Pakistan at the November 2014 summit, India helped create
Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal or BBIN sub-regional grouping. T

he four nations
have conducted a test run of the first truck from Dhaka to Delhi.

Cross-border power supply from India to Nepal and Bangladesh
has added momentum to BBIN formula.

Pakistan is seen as a spoiler in many of the SAARC
initiatives.

The 19th Saarc summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad
last November, was postponed after India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan
pulled out in protest against the continued export of terrorism from Pakistan.

Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives also called for creating
conducive atmosphere for holding of the summit.

The Odisha government has served a notice to Indian Oil
Corporation, indicating it wants to withdraw fiscal incentives given to the
central government-owned refiner-marketer's Rs 34,000-crore Paradip refinery.

It is a move which will hit profitability of the state's
largest investor and shake business confidence.

Earlier, in December 29 notice came within weeks of the
state government holding `Make in Odisha' conclave to attract investments.

This has prompted industry watchers to see the development
as an extension of the political fight between chief minister Naveen Patnaik
and oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is spearheading the BJP's advance in
the state.

The show-cause notice for withdrawal of concession
contravenes the MoU which says conditions cannot be changed.

Indian Oil had shelved the project in 2003 and revived it
only after the state government extended the concessions.

The investment plan was approved in 2009.

The withdrawal of the VAT concession will reduce by 2% the
rate of return taken for working out the investment, upsetting the entire
calculation and hitting future expansion.

If withdrawn, the incentive that will bite Indian Oil most
is an 11-year VAT deferment on products from the refinery sold within the
state.

considering a 4.5% growth in sales in the state, the VAT
deferent would be worth Rs 8,000-11,000 crore as per the net present value.

The refinery started commercial production last year.

The state government's contention is that the refinery
doesn't need incentives since its profitability has increased due to a higher
capacity configuration and low global oil prices.

The refinery was originally planned with a capacity of
processing 9 million tonne a year but then revised to 15 million tonne, keeping
the state government in the loop.

The Paradip refinery started commercial production last
year, is yet to achieve net profit on standalone basis.

The capacity revision by saying modern refineries with
complex technologies have to operate at high capacity for optimum results.

Besides, the higher capacity was needed for setting up two
downstream petrochemical units at an additional cost of Rs 7,250 crore.

India has been ranked 79th out of 176 countries in the
recently released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for the year 2016 by the
Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI).

The index has been complied by using World Bank data, the
World Economic Forum (WEF) and other institutions It ranks countries on the score in the scale
ranging from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).

Top 10 Rank Nations:

New Zealand and Denmark in joint first place (with a score
of 90), followed by Finland (3rd), Sweden (4th), Switzerland (5th), Norway
(6th), Singapore (7th), Netherlands (8th), Canada (9th) and Germany (10th).

Bottom of
the index:

Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country.

Other countries with lower rankings were Syria, South Sudan,
North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

In this edition of list, India, China and Brazil with a
score of 40 each figured in the 10 key economies in the mid-range.

Over two-thirds of the 176 countries in this year’s index
fall below the midpoint of the scale of 0 to very clean of index.

The global average score is 43, indicating endemic
corruption in a country’s public sector.

In this edition of list, India has marginally improved its ranking
index for 2016 by two points from 38 score in 2015.

It was established in 1989 with ministerial mandate to establish international standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

It's main aim is to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to integrity of international financial system.

Primarily, it was only dealing with developing policies to combat money laundering.

In 2001, it had expanded its action against terrorism financing.

At present, the institution consists two regional organisations and 35 member jurisdictions, including India, UK, US, China and the European Commission.

India to overtake China as the largest growth market for energy in volume terms by 2030 - 28 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to BP Statistical Review of World Energy, India’s
oil consumption growth will be the fastest among all major economies by 2035.

Energy consumption will grow by 4.2 % per annum - faster
than all major economies in the world - India’s consumption growth of fossil
fuels would be the largest in the world.

India is Asia's second biggest energy consumer since 2008.

It had overtaken Japan as the world's third largest oil
consuming country behind US and China in 2015.

India will overtake China as the largest growth market for
energy in volume terms by 2030.

Oil consumption will rise beom 4.1 million barrels per day
in 2015 to 9.2 million bpd in 2035.

Natural gas consumption would jump from 4.9 billion cubic
feet per day to 12.8 bcfd while coal consumption is project to more than double
to 833 million tons.

India’s energy demand growth at 129 % which is more than
double the non-OECD average of 52 % and also outpaces each of the BRIC
countries as China (47 %), Brazil (41 %), and Russia (2 %).

Its share of global energy demand increases to 9 % by 2035,
accounting for the second largest share among the BRIC countries with China at
26 %, Russia at 4 % and Brazil at 2 %.

Coal remains the dominant fuel produced in India with a 65 %
share of total production in 2035. Renewable overtakes oil as the second largest,
increasing from 4 % to 14 % in 2035 as oil drops from 10 per cent today to 3 %
by 2035.

Oil imports rise by 165 % and account for 56 % of the
increase in imports, followed by increasing imports of gas (173 %) and coal
(105 %).

President Pranab Mukherjee has given Governor of Assam
Banwarilal Purohit additional charge of Meghalaya.

Besides, President also gave Governor of Nagaland PB Acharya
additional charge of Arunachal Pradesh.

These appointments come after President accepted the
resignation of V. Shanmuganathan, as Governor of Meghalaya and Arunachal
Pradesh.

Banwarilal Purohit was appointed as the Governor of Assam by
President in August 2016.

He had succeeded Padmanabha Acharya who was the
additional in-charge of Assam.

Padmanabha Acharya was appointed as the Governor of Nagaland
in July 2014 after the President accepted the resignation of of Tripura
Governor Vakkom Purushothaman.

Constitutional provisions of Governor Article 153: It says
that there shall be Governor for each state. But 7th Constitutional Amendment
Act, 1956 facilitated the appointment of the same person as a governor for two
or more states.

Article 156: Governor is appointed by President and hold
office during the pleasure of President.

It should be also noted that this article also mentions
tenure of Governor.

In this regard it says that Governor shall hold office for
the term of 5 years from date he enters upon his office.

Over 99% of Indians 18 now have Aadhaar cards - 28 Jan 17

Highlights:

After demonetisation, Aadhaar generation and its use for
financial transactions saw a substantial jump

Over 99% of Indians aged 18 and above now have Aadhaar cards.

More than 111 crore residents have enrolled themselves for
the unique identification number.

The increase in enrolments will come as a boost to the
government's drive to make India a less-cash society as it is encouraging the
use of Aadhaar Pay.

It is a merchant version of Aadhaar-enabled payment system
(AEPS).

Presently, 91.7% coverage of the total population are under Aadhaar
cards.

The government is set to accelerate the use of unique
identification numbers in its social welfare schemes for disbursing
entitlements and subsidies as it will help check duplication and pilferage.

The government saved Rs 36,000 crore in two years even
though the use of Aadhaar was restricted to a handful of schemes like PDS,
household LPG supply and MGNREGA.

Aadhaar was started by the previous government but at that
time, it was only a digital identity.

It has become a powerful tool of financial and future
transformation.

Aadhaar is also becoming a powerful instrument to bridge the
digital divide.

Aadhaar enrolment between March 2014 and May 2014 was 3-4
lakh per day and went up to around 5-6 lakh per day by October 2016.

Since demonetisation, Aadhaar enrolment and update requests
have been in the range of 7-8 lakh per day.

India’s largest and biggest Maharatna flagship explorer
company ONGC has become the first public sector entity to launch a gender
sensitisation programme to train executives on preventing sexual harassment at
workplace.

The move comes as more and more women are making a career in
the oil industry, which was so far considered a male bastion.

According to ONGC ,the programme will inculcate a sense of
responsibility and professional ethics needed for discharging duties more
professionally and efficiently.

The programme has been designed to prevent untoward
incidents and provide protection against sexual harassment at workplace as well
as speedy redressal of complaints.

The initiative aims at training and sensitising 3,000 senior
executives at the level of deputy general manager and above in the first phase
through an e-learning portal launched specifically for this purpose.

ONGC will impart the training through its intranet site as
well as individual versions of tablets and smart phones.

While the private sector has generally been ahead in
following the Visakah guidelines on preventing and tackling issues pertaining
to sexual harassment at workplace, the public sector has so far been lagging.

The ONGC initiative is expected to spur other major
government companies to move on the issue.

Shekar Naik become the First blind cricketer to be awarded the Padma Shri - 28 Jan 17

Highlights:

Shekar Naik become
the First blind cricketer to be awarded the Padma Shri

Naik scored 32
centuries and 15 half-centuries in the 63 matches he played across formats.

He is undoubtedly India's most successful visually impaired
cricketer.

Naik had to overcome in the course of winning two World Cups
and several bilateral series.

Shekar Naik was born completely blind in Arekere
village of Karnataka's Shivamogga district.

Early life in the village was difficult; education
rudimentary and Naik not really being able to fully take part in the games the
other boys played, because of his disability.

When he was only seven, Naik fell on the banks of a river,
injuring his head.

More misfortune followed as Naik's father died just months
after his son had regained partial eyesight.

Admitted in the Shri Sharada Devi School for the Blind in
Shivamogga, things gradually began to get better.

At first reluctant to take part in the modified form of
cricket that his peers engaged in, Naik had to be coaxed to give the game a
chance.

As he grew older, Naik took to working in the fields in the
summer holidays, earning anything between Rs 1000 and 1500, which was then
carefully made to go a long way.

President of India Pranab Mukherjee has launched the pulse
polio programme for 2017.

It was launched on the eve of the National Immunization Day.

Health minister J P Nadda and Ministers of State for Health
Anupriya Patel and Faggan Singh Kulaste were present during the event.

Normally, polio vaccine given to children aged below five
years throughout in the country.

It is an effort to maintain the country's 'polio-free'
status.

The programme will cover 17 crore children under five years
of age.

The polio-free certification of the entire South-East Asia
Region of the World Health Organisation, including India on March 27, 2014 is a big achievement in the history of public health.

Immunization is one of the key interventions in reducing
child deaths in India.

Rotavirus virus vaccine has been introduced as part of the
Universal Immunization programme (UIP) last year to expand its scope in the
country.

The Ministry will soon introduce Pneumococcal Conjugate
Vaccine.

It will help reduce the risk of diarrhea, pneumonia and
meningitis and (launch) a countrywide campaign with Measles-Rubella vaccine in
a phased manner.

The central government is conducting continuous polio
vaccination at the international borders with India and a travel advisory has
also been issued to vaccinate all travellers who are travelling between India
and eight other countries.

An Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) is in
place under which Rapid Response Teams (RRT) have been formed in all states and
UTs to respond urgently to any importations of polio virus.

IITs listed as fourth largest producer of unicorn start-ups in the world - 29 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) bagged the fourth
spot in the lists universities that have produced the most unicorn founders.

US-based Stanford University claimed the top rank with 51
unicorn founders, followed by Harvard University with 37.

The University of California came third with 18 unicorn
founders and IIT followed with 12 founders.

Unicorns are start-ups with more than a billion-dollar
valuation.

India is home to 10 unicorn companies , making them the
poster boys of the country's start-up ecosystem.

From e-commerce giants Flipkart, Snapdeal and Shop Clues to
cab aggregator Ola, restaurant aggregator Zomato, classified ads platform
Quickr, digital payments company Paytm, mobile adtech player InMobi, messaging
app Hike and analytics company Mu Sigma, these startups have grabbed spots in
the elite club and almost all the founders have had stints at one of the IITs.

In a high sensitive match, Roger Federer won five-set Australian Open final against his
great rival Rafael Nadal to clinch a record-extending 18th Grand Slam title.

Federer won 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in three hours 38
minutes on Rod Laver Arena to move four major titles ahead of Nadal and Pete
Sampras on the all-time winners` list.

The Swiss marvel also became the oldest man in the post-1968
Open era to win a major final since Australia`s Ken Rosewall at the 1972 Australian
Open.

It was Federer’s fifth Australian title in his sixth final,
and ended a long, seven-year wait to win again in Melbourne after his 2010
triumph over Andy Murray.

It was the 35th meeting between the two great rivals.

Nadal is leading 23-12 and 6-3 in major finals, including
his five-set win over Federer in the 2009 Australian final.

Federer, playing with a flatter backhand than normal, took
the match to Nadal and got the only service break to take the opening set.

Nadal fought back with two breaks to level before Federer
got the bit between his teeth with a double break in the third set.

The Spaniard hit back in the fourth set with a service break
in the fourth game to take the final into a fifth set.

He again broke the Swiss early in the final set but Federer
rose to the occasion and broke Nadal twice to win a classic encounter.

Federer also becomes the first man in history to win five or
more titles at three different Grand Slam events.

He has won five Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, five US
Opens and one French Open.

It is noted that Australian Open is the first Grand Slam
Lawn tennis tournament out of four Grand Slam in the beginning of the year.

The nature of play court is hard court and every year plays
in Melbourne.

Every 3rd Indian died in road accidents is a youth - 29 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to the latest road accidents report of Union Road
Transport Ministry, every third person killed in road crashes is in the prime
of his/ her youth in India.

In 2015, at least 48,420 people in the age group of 15-24
years were killed in road crashes.

The number was bigger at 79,000 for people killed in road
crashes in the age group of 15 to 34 years. This was 54% of all road deaths
that India recorded in 2015.

The data also show, nearly 42% of people dying on roads was
due to speeding beyond the permitted limit.

The latest global status report on road safety by World
Health Organisation(WHO), road crashes are the biggest killer of people in the
age group of 15-29 years and the numbers are much more than lives lost in
suicides, HIV/ AIDS, homicide or lower respiratory infection.

Former CAG Vinod Rai appointed as head of BCCI interim panel by SC - 30 Jan 17

Highlights:

The Supreme Court on January 30 appointed Vinod Rai as the
head of the administration panel to oversee the affairs of the Board of Control
for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The four will function as the interim bosses of the BCCI and
run the day-to-day administration of the cricket body till the Lodha reforms
are fully implemented and elections held.

A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra did not
heed pleas for fresh hearings by the BCCI, its State members and non-State
members and took the step forward in the direction laid out by the Justice R.M.
Lodha Committee.

Edulji is the only former cricketer on the panel.

She had played 20 Tests and 34 One-Day Internationals for
India.

The court rejected the Centre's request to appoint the
sports ministry's secretary as one of the members of the panel.

Earlier, the Lodha panel recommendation which barred
ministers and bureaucrats from holding any post in the BCCI.

The apex court also appointed acting board secretary Amitabh
Choudhary and treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry along with Limaye as BCCI's
representatives for the upcoming ICC meetings from February 2-5.

The newly-appointed committee will take charge with
immediate effect and will serve on an interim basis until the next BCCI
elections are held.

Meanwhile, the board's CEO, Rahul Johri, will be looking
after the daily administration.

The administrators were expected to be named on January 24,
but Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi requested the court to not nominate
administrators for the BCCI for another two weeks, given that the central
government was thinking about bringing in a sports code.

Thereafter, the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Dipak
Misra asked the BCCI to submit suggestions on administrators in a sealed
envelope by January 27.

The bench also
allowed the Indian cricket board to suggest three names after following the due
process to represent it at the ICC meeting due in the first week of February.

Names of nine administrators were submitted by Anil Divan
and Gopal Subramaniam, the amicus curiae, in a sealed envelope to the Supreme
Court.

However, the bench, which also includes Justice AM
Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud had asked for a review of the names and
stated that nine people as administrators will be too many.

It was also made clear that names suggested by amicus curiae
above 70 years of age will not be considered for the administrators' post.

The Lodha committee was formed in 2015 to to pronounce the
quantum of punishment for those found guilty in the Indian Premier League (IPL)
betting and spot-fixing case by the Mudgal report.

In addition to pronouncing the punitive measures for
perpetrators, the apex court empowered the panel to recommend changes in the
administration of the BCCI.

This month, Lodha Committee discarded Anurag Thakur and Ajay Shirke as the
president and the secretary respectively.

It will administer the cricket body till Lodha reforms are
fully enforced.

Amulya Patnaik to be the next Delhi Police Commissioner - 30 Jan 17

Highlights:

IPS officer Amulya Patnaik has been appointed to be the next
Police Commissioner of Delhi By the Home Ministry.

He will succeed Alok Verma.

Recently, Alok Verma becoming the CBI Director.

Mr. Patnaik was one of the frontrunners for the post along
with Deepak Mishra and Dharmendra Kumar.

He is currently holding charge as special commissioner in
Delhi Police.

A native of Odisha, Patnaik is an IPS office of AGMUT cadre
and was holding charge as special commissioner (administration) in the Delhi
Police when announced to succeed Alok Verma as the Commissioner.

He has also served as joint commissioner (operations) in Delhi
police.

Patnaik, though a batch junior to other two strong
contenders Dharmendra Kumar and Dipak Mishra, is believed to have been chosen
due to his clean image.

Mishra is now with the Central Reserve Police Force as an
Additional Director General while Kumar is an Additional Director General with
the Central Industrial Security Force. Both are 1984 batch IPS officers.

SAARC Speakers’ summit to be held in Indore: Pakistan unlikely to attend - 30 Jan 17

Highlights:

India has invited Pakistan for the South Asian Speakers'
Summit which it will host next month in Indore.

Pakistan is likely to decline the invitation, though a final
official decision is awaited.

Other South Asian nations, all members of SAARC have
confirmed their participation for the Summit on achieving Sustainable
Development Goals.

The conference will be held by Indian Parliament and
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Indore, February 18-19.

This would be the first high level engagement among South
Asian nations since the cancellation of the SAARC summit which was to be held
in Islamabad in November last year.

India had isolated Pakistan diplomatically by forcing
several other countries to withdraw from the summit due to the terror attack in
J&K's Uri.

India had also invited Myanmar for the Speakers' conference.

Myanmar too is learnt to have declined the invitation.

The last edition of the event was held in Bangladesh and the
next one will be hosted by Sri Lanka.

Earlier, India had in 2015 threatened to boycott a conference
of Speakers organized under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union after Pakistan
refused to invite the Speaker of J&K assembly.

Pakistan later called off
the event saying that since Kashmir was a disputed territory, it had become
impossible to host the Commonwealth conference in Pakistan.

Pakistan's Sartaj Aziz, who is the de facto foreign minister
of the country, had in December 2016 attended the Heart of Asia conference in
Amritsar.

Centre for Civil Society (CCS) has been ranked among top 100 think tanks in World - 30 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to the Global Go To Think Tank Index Report 2016, the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) has been
ranked among the top 100 think tanks globally.

The latest report has released annually by the Lauder
Institute of Pennsylvania University, U.S.A.

In terms of numbers, the U.S. has 1,835 think tanks, the highest globally, followed by China with 435, and the United Kingdom has 288.

India stands in 4th position with 280 think tanks.

Nine other Indian institutes figured among the top 175 for
the year 2016.

The CCS is ranked 80 which is one lower than last year’s
rank.

The CCS is a pioneering organisation in India in liberal
thinking.

CCS took initiatives on the rights of individuals and on the
concept of freedom.

In India we are gradually learning the importance of freedom
and CCS has been an extremely important part of that journey.

Among the think tanks of China, India, Japan, and South
Korea in Asia, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), which works closely with the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and co-hosts the Raisina Dialogue, was the
best ranked Indian think tank at fifth position.

There are 29 Indian think tanks among the list of 90.

Chatham House, U.K. was declared the top think tank of the
world while Brookings Institution of U.S. retained the position as the top
think tank worldwide in U.S. and Non-U.S. category.

A 2015 study published in PLOS Medicine journal showed over
12% of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory FDCs contain drugs that were either
withdrawn from market or have had their use restricted.

Brunhilde Pomsel, a former secretary of Nazi propaganda
minister Joseph Goebbels has died at the age of 106.

Ms. Pomsel lived most of her life in relative obscurity
until a German newspaper published an interview with her in 2011.

She was one of the last surviving members of the Nazi
leadership’s inner circle.

She had three years experience working for the man
responsible for spreading Adolf Hitler’s ideology in newspapers and across the
airwaves.

Ms. Pomsel had been lucid when he last spoke to her on her
birthday on January 11.

Her job brought her into close contact with Goebbels - one
of the worst war criminals of the 20th century.

She was one of the last surviving members of staff from the
Nazi hierarchy, who only spoke about her experience later in life.

In "A German Life", which was released last year, she
felt no guilt - "unless you end up blaming the entire German population.

Brief History:

She was born in January 1911.

Ms Pomsel worked as a writer for a Jewish insurance broker
for a number of years during her late teenage years, before taking a similar
job with a right-wing writer.

she joined the Nazi party when they took power in 1933, in
order to take a government job with German national radio.

Her skill as a typist brought her to the role of Joseph
Goebbels' secretary in 1942, during the war, when he was minister of "public
enlightenment and propaganda.

She was simply a secretary and knew little of the Nazi's
brutal actions during the Holocaust.

Ms Pomsel's Jewish friend died in Auschwitz while she worked
for Goebbels

Her Jewish friend, Eva Lowenthal, disappeared in November
1943.

Sixty years later, Ms Pomsel discovered she had died in the
Auschwitz concentration camp.

Ms Pomsel was captured by Soviet troops at the end of World
War Two - and spent the following five years in detention camps, before
rejoining German broadcasting in 1950, where she worked for the next 20 years.

She would not speak openly about her time serving the senior
Nazi official until a 2011 newspaper interview, and more extensively in the
2016 documentary.

She died in Munich a few weeks after her 106th birthday.

CSO revises India's GDP growth for 2015-16 raise to 7.9% - 31 Jan 17

Highlights:

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO)’s revised
data, India’s GDP growth stood at 7.9 % during 2015-16 and 7.2 % during
2014-15.

Government has marginally revised upwards GDP growth for
2015-16 to 7.9 % from the earlier estimate of 7.6 % after factoring in latest
data on agriculture and industrial production.

In 2015-16, at constant prices, the growth of primary
(agriculture, forestry, fishing and mining and quarrying).

Secondary (manufacturing, electricity, gas, water supply and
other utility services and construction) and tertiary (services) sectors has
been pegged at 2.6 %, 7.8 % and 9.8 % as against a growth of 1.8 %, 6.1 % and
9.5 %, respectively, in the previous year.

Per-capita net national income at current prices is
estimated at Rs. 86,513 and Rs. 94,178, respectively, for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Per-capita PFCE (private final consumption expenditure) at
current prices is estimated at Rs. 57,402 and Rs. 61,571 for 2014-15 and
2015-16, respectively.

The Centre moved the Supreme Court seeking to enforce a ban
on 344 fixed dose combination (FDC) drugs.

The Centre has challenged a Delhi HC order which had last
month overturned a government notification on the issue.

The health ministry challenged the order against the
notification which imposed ban on 344 FDC drugs including popular cough syrups
based on codine like Phensedyl and Corex.

The ministry had prohibited manufacturing and sale of these
medicines in March last year alleging they were found to be without any
therapeutic efficacy or use.

Also there were concerns about misuse of such medicines
considered unsafe for mass consumption.

A bench of SC is headed by Justice Dipak Misra for this
case.

The matter would be taken up after four weeks.

The Delhi HC verdict,the government had failed to consult
statutory authorities like the Drug Technical Advisory Board and Drugs
Consultative Committee for the ban.

It clarified that the verdict did not decide on the issue of
the FDC drugs being risky to consumers.

DTAB or DCC (Drugs Consultative Committee) are consulted for
rule making and not for action under Section 26 (A) of the Drugs and Cosmetics
Act.

The government's ban had impacted about 6,000 brands.

The health ministry's decision was based on a report by a
six-member committee headed by Chandrakant Kokate.

An FDC contains two or more drugs combined in a fixed ratio
of doses and available in a single dosage form.

Health experts say many unapproved FDCs are sold in India,
mostly in the analgesics, anti-depressants and psychotic condition segment.

Industry estimates suggest the move may impact
pharmaceutical sales to the tune of around Rs 1,500 crore.

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) starts pilot services - 31 Jan 17

Highlights:

India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has started its operations
by rolling out pilot services in Raipur and Ranchi.

The bank will offer an interest rate of 4.5% on deposits up
to Rs.25,000 , 5% on deposits of Rs.25,000-50,000 and 5.5% on
Rs.50,000-1,00,000.

The paid up equity of the new bank is Rs.800 crore.

Out of the total the government has already infused Rs.275
crore.

The idea is to have a branch in every district and make 3
lakh postmen come alive in payment bank function.

As many as 1,000 ATMs of India Post will be transferred to
IPPB.

IPPB plans to have 650 branches across the country by
September 2017.

IPPB is a mechanism
for financial inclusion and a milestone.

The payments bank - the third one to get a permit after
Airtel and Paytm and the first one promoted by the government - will not just
conduct business but also serve people.

India Post Payments Bank is the third entity to receive
payments bank permit after Airtel and Paytm. Payments banks can accept deposits
up to Rs.1 lakh per account from individuals and small businesses.

The new model of banking allows mobile firms, super market
chains and others to cater to banking requirements of individuals and small
businesses.

It will be set up as a differentiated bank and will confine
its activities to acceptance of demand deposits, remittance services, Internet
banking and other specified services.

In 2015, the RBI had granted ‘in-principle’ approval to 11
entities, including the Department of Posts, to set up payments banks and
proposed to give such licences ‘on tap’ basis in future.

However, a consortium of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries
promoter Dilip Shanghvi, IDFC Bank and Telenor Financial Services gave up their
plans to roll out payments bank.

Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Ltd. (Chola)
also decided to withdraw its plans to set up a payments bank.

Tech Mahindra was the third to drop plans to roll out
payments bank.

Out of the remaining eight companies in the fray, Airtel
launched its commercial operation across India with an investment of Rs.3,000 crore
and is offering interest rate of 7.25% on deposits, free money transfer from
Airtel to Airtel numbers within Airtel Bank, money transfer to any bank account
in the country.

Paytm, promoted by Vijay Shekhar Sharma and backed by
Chinese e-commerce major Alibaba, plans to roll out payments bank with an
initial investment of about Rs.400 crore.

The current account deficit (CAD) narrowed in the first half
of 2016-17 to 0.3 % of GDP.

Labour migration in India increasing at an accelerating rate.

FDI reform measures were implemented, allowing India to
become one of the world’s largest recipients of FDI

India’s trade-GDP ratio is now greater than China.

What is Economic
Survey?

Economic Survey is a flagship annual document of the
Ministry of Finance, Government of India

Economic Survey reviews the developments in the Indian
economy over the previous 12 months, summarizes the performance on major
development programmes, and highlights the policy initiatives of the government
and the prospects of the economy in the short to medium term.

This document is presented to both houses of Parliament
during the Budget Session, on a day before the presentation of Union Budget by
Finance Minister of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the constitution
of eight members Task Force committee for preparing action plan for next three
Olympic Games 2020, 2024 and 2028.

It has been given three months’ time to submit its report
regarding a comprehensive action plan including short, medium and long-term
measures for effective participation of Indian sports-persons in the Olympic
games.

Suggest effective talent identification system for 2024 and
2028 Olympics. Identify components of world class support system for elite
sportspersons and lay down further the pathway.

Suggest ways to achieve synergy in the efforts of key
stakeholders within Union Government and across State Governments, Indian
Olympic Association (IOA), National Sports Federations, NGOs, etc. Suggest ways
to significantly improve the standards of coaching and sports scientist within
the country and to create and upgrade sports infrastructure required to train
top-level athletes.

Make suggestion regarding foreign training and exposure of
top-level athletes and also make recommendations on any other matters referred
to it.